The Corner is home to stores and food locations authentic only to Charlottesville, such as Finch and Bodo's Bagels. In recent years, however, an increase in large commercial chains, such as Starbucks and CVS, have opened along this beloved stretch of University Avenue. This fall, another two chains will open in a shared space on the Corner - Baskin Robbins and its corporate partner Dunkin' Donuts.
Manager Andy Rod, whose family owns 15 Dunkin' Donuts stores in Virginia, said he has had his eye on a Corner location for years.
"It has been a No. 1 priority of mine," Rod said. "The location is perfect - you can see the Rotunda and the hospital from the store."
The store, which will be open 24 hours a day, intends to draw student customers through both its popular products and free wireless Internet access. Rod also noted that about 25 percent of the employees being hired will be University students.
"It will find huge success from students craving late-night sweets," second-year College student Ian Major said. He considers his three favorite places to eat on the Corner to be Christian's, Littlejohn's and the White Spot, partially because of their convenient, almost round-the-clock hours. The new store, he added, "will add an extra option for food that I don't think is adequately covered already on the Corner, so it will definitely change how and where I spend my money."
Other students agreed, noting that the store will offer items that are not really found at other vendors on the Corner.
"Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbins are, in my opinion, only places where I can grab some dessert. It may prevent me from going to Arch's when I have a sweet tooth - more so than money," second-year College student Amber Hamilton said.
Initially, one might assume that current Corner proprietors may be displeased with the new competition - but not Mark Lorenzoni, who has been the owner of Ragged Mountain Running Shop for 28 years. Lorenzoni believes this store is something the Corner has been lacking.
"Everybody loves donuts - it'll be nice to have something to balance out the other options," he said.
Furthermore, Arch's owner Sandy Archer noted that the more people that come to the Corner to visit the new store, the more people there may be visiting hers, as well.\n"The more draws there are on the Corner, the more it benefits all the merchants," said Arch's Owner Sandy Archer, who has owned the local frozen-yogurt favorite for 19 years.
Archer is not worried about her business being a competitor to Baskin Robbins. She expects people will check it out when it initially opens up, but knows her business offers different options than Baskin Robbins.
"I don't think they can match our gooey brownies," she quipped.
Meanwhile, Para Coffee Manager Phillip Martin also is unconcerned about whether Dunkin' Donuts will affect his business.
"We have a confident customer base," he said. "Our coffee is ground within 15 minutes and roasted within a week, but their [Dunkin' Donuts] stuff is not as fresh ... That's how distribution works."
Para, which opened two years ago by a University alumnus, prides itself on being authentically Charlottesville.
"That's what the Corner is all about - local business," Martin said.
But Dunkin' Donuts' new manager does not want to be viewed as a national corporation but rather like an aforementioned "local business." After all, Rod said, his family has lived in Charlottesville for years.
"We're not corporate guys - we're locally owned and operated. We're in it for the long haul, and we're not going anywhere," he said.
Nevertheless, one cannot deny that the addition of this national chain store has the potential to change the dynamic on the Corner. It already has started to make an impact in the University community by contributing to various causes and organizations, Rod said. Thus far, he said Dunkin' Donuts donated all the coffee for Pancakes for Parkinsons and dozens of donuts for both the Charlottesville Women's Four-Miler and the Lose the Shoes barefoot soccer tournament.
"When people are working as hard at the University like they are, we want to be here to put a smile on their faces," Rod said.
The grand opening is slated for Oct. 27, but Rod expects the store to open this week, as the crew is simply adding finishing touches. During the grand opening, students will have the opportunity for free giveaways and coffee, as well as to donate to the Virginia Institute of Autism, he said.
Many students will take advantage of the newly arrived sweet treats and long shop hours, but only time will tell how the Corner community will react to another seemingly national franchise.
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