Dunn Brothers Coffee is a franchise company of
coffeehouses founded in
St. Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul (often abbreviated St. Paul) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 311,527, making it Minnesota's second-most populous city a ...
, in December 1987 by brothers Ed and Dan Dunn. As of October 2024, Dunn Brothers Coffee has 48 locations in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin.
History
The first store opened in 1987 at 1569 Grand Avenue in St. Paul, after the Dunn brothers had driven an old Dodge van loaded with their belongings from Portland, Oregon, to Minnesota in search of a good, underserved location for a coffee business. They found a refurbished 1950s Probat roaster in Cincinnati, Ohio, and used it to set up that first store. The second location opened in Uptown Minneapolis in 1991 (and was temporarily the only location while the Grand Avenue store was rebuilt following a 1991 fire). The Grand Avenue store still exists as "Dunn Bros Coffee" but is not part of the Dunn Brothers Coffee franchise.
On July 25, 2022, Dunn Brothers Coffee announced that it was acquired by Gala Capital Partners, owner of
Cicis Pizza and
Mooyah.
On July 10, 2023, Dunn Brothers Coffee appoints Scott Harvey as its new president. Previously holding roles at Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery, Einstein Bros. Bagels, and Black Rifle Coffee, Harvey brings a depth of knowledge in the restaurant and franchise space. In his role as president for Dunn Brothers, Harvey will take the helm of the brand's franchise development strategy, expanding its footprint in its existing Midwest and Great Plains markets, and beyond. With a new lens on franchising under Harvey's leadership, the brand will also implement its latest store prototype that includes a smaller footprint and a focus on drive-thru operations.
Franchise
The store's locations are primarily in the American
Midwest
The Midwestern United States (also referred to as the Midwest, the Heartland or the American Midwest) is one of the four census regions defined by the United States Census Bureau. It occupies the northern central part of the United States. It ...
, especially Minnesota, where there are 31 locations. As of 2021, the company has stores in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin. Dunn Bros Coffee is a
franchise, and most stores are locally owned and operated. One distinguishing feature that separates Dunn Bros from most of its chain competitors is that at every traditional location the coffee is roasted right in the store, usually on a daily basis. This allows customers to buy freshly roasted whole beans. The in-store roasting and small batch sizes typically allow for the availability of 12-15 varieties of whole beans.
Dunn Bros partners with certifiers of sustainably grown coffee in the world including
Fair Trade USA, and
Rainforest Alliance
The Rainforest Alliance is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) with staff in more than 20 countries and operations in more than 70 countries. It was founded in 1987 by Daniel Katz, an American environmental activist, who serve ...
.
See also
*
List of coffeehouse chains
References
External links
Official websiteDunn Bros Grand Avenue (independent)
{{Fast-food chains of the United States
Coffeehouses and cafés in the United States
Companies based in Minneapolis
Coffee brands
Fast-food franchises
Coffeehouses and cafés in Minnesota