A couple of years after the Baskin-Robbins on Ascan closed and that space was absorbed into a bigger Natural store, the ice cream chain has hopped across the corner, reopening inside the new Dunkin' Donuts, in what is certainly a sweet surprise.
If we had to have a Dunkin' Donuts there, at least we have some ice cream again. Will come in handy this summer...
Speaking of the new Ascan Dunkin' Donuts, I received this email from a reader about its recent opening. I encourage everyone to either email me or post their thoughts on the blog or the blog's Facebook Page about whatever is on your mind:
If we had to have a Dunkin' Donuts there, at least we have some ice cream again. Will come in handy this summer...
Speaking of the new Ascan Dunkin' Donuts, I received this email from a reader about its recent opening. I encourage everyone to either email me or post their thoughts on the blog or the blog's Facebook Page about whatever is on your mind:
Hi Drake -
The comments about this new opening have been largely negative, and I think it deserves a fresh look.
Like it or not, chains are
part of the retail landscape. Today's business climate, especially when
food is involved it is hard, to say the least on entrepreneurs. And understandably, landlords want reliable tenants.
That said the most productive
way to encourage independent establishments is to patronize those that
do open, and to lean on the Forest Hills Chamber of Commerce to
encourage and support their addition to the neighborhood. I am no fan
of the Chamber, because I think the do a poor all 'round job, but they
are the organization to task. Wishing just doesn't make it so.
Back to DD ... here is what I see as the positives:
Nice layout with plenty of window seating.
BR offers ice cream option, including cakes. You don't have to schlep
to Metropolitan for same. Eddie's is in a different category! DD is
open early and late. That is convenient to those living on that end of
Austin, AND big plus here, it provides a measure of security. A clean
well lit space is a good thing on a quiet dark street. Last, it opened
and Bonelle stayed open. Everybody wins. While it may not be the indie
of some dreams, it brings it's own positive attributes, which certainly
is a step up from the previous tenant.
I think on a whole, it's an improvement.
