A blogger in China recently wrote about the appearance of Dunkin' Donuts in Xi'an:
Somewhere in between rickshaws barreling down streets, three-wheeled cars, and sidewalk vendors selling boiled lotus roots, I didn’t expect to see that strikingly familiar orange and pink Dunkin’ Donuts sign. As a Massachusetts native, I frequented Dunkin’ Donuts in my school years, and the logo stuck out like a….well…. Dunkin’ Donuts sign in the middle of third-tier China. But there it was, just a few miles away from my university apartment in Xi’an, China, a brand new Dunkin’ Donuts franchise selling fresh hot coffee, donuts, and munchkins. (www.tomschinablog)
I chuckled because this is actually the return of Dunkin' Donuts to China, not the first appearance. In the early 1990's Beijing had at least 3 Dunkin' Donuts stores around town, including one at the Friendship Store. I was working in Changchun at the time, and often travelled to Beijing on business. My co-workers would not let me back in the office when I returned unless I had at least one box of donuts in hand.
Shortly after I moved to Beijing in 1998, they all closed. We never knew why. Perhaps they were just ahead of their time.
Welcome back to China, Dunkin Donuts. Hope to be seeing you again in Beijing real soon.