Dunkin' Plans at Least Nine New Columbus-Area Stores: First Opens Late November

COLUMBUS, OH — Central Ohio is about to get a lot more Dunkin'. At least nine new locations are planned across the Columbus area, according to reporting from Columbus Business First and WhatNow, and the first one is expected to open on East Main Street near Reynoldsburg later this month. Every one of those drive-thrus will need a crew to run it.

The first store is expected in late November, more follow on Polaris Parkway, Holt Road and in Canal Winchester, and the hiring for each one starts weeks before the doors open.

Want to get in early? Skip straight to the job links and begin searching now →

📍 Business at a Glance

Business	Dunkin' (franchise locations)
Operator	Gilligan Company, a Cincinnati-based franchisee, for most of the named sites
Planned locations	At least nine across the Columbus area
First opening	Late November 2026, East Main Street near Reynoldsburg
Concept	Coffee and quick-service food, drive-thru
Industry	Quick-service restaurant
New jobs	No headcount announced

🗺️ Where the New Stores Are Going

Here is the reported timeline. The operator says dates can shift, so treat them as targets.

East Main Street, Burlington East Shopping Center (East Side, near Reynoldsburg): expected late November 2026.
Polaris Parkway: expected December 2026.
1617 Holt Road, West Side (the former White Castle building): expected February or March 2027.
Winchester Pike near Gender Road, Canal Winchester: expected May 2027.
Delaware: a site near State Route 36/37 and Sky View Lane, with no date announced.
Pataskala: listed as coming soon, no date announced.
Three more Gilligan sites are under contract and have not been named publicly.

Goodman Real Estate Services Group, which represented Gilligan in the deals, lists the Holt Road, Polaris Parkway, East Main Street and Delaware sites.

🏆 Who's Behind It

Gilligan Company already runs 12 Dunkin' stores in the Columbus market, and its business also includes convenience stores, fuel stations and other quick-service restaurants. Company president Travis Sensabaugh told Columbus Business First the goal is to add four or five units a year for the next five or six years.

That matters when you apply. An operator with a dozen stores in town already has training figured out, and a group that keeps opening needs shift leaders and managers it can promote from within.

💼 The Jobs a New Dunkin' Needs

No hiring announcement or job count has been published for these stores, so we are not going to invent one. What we can tell you is what a drive-thru coffee shop structurally needs.

Most of the work is crew: taking orders at the window, making drinks, running the oven and keeping the line moving through the morning rush. Above that sit shift leaders, then an assistant manager and a general manager for each store. New locations usually staff up a few weeks before opening day, so with East Main expected this month, that window may already be open. Get your resume ready and watch for postings.

Pay varies by role and shift, so check the rate on each posting. Early-morning availability is what coffee shop managers want most.

🔎 Search Dunkin' and Coffee Shop Jobs Now

📋 How to Get Hired Before Opening Day

Lead with mornings. If you can open at 5:00 a.m. on weekends, say it first.
Apply to the store nearest you. East Siders should watch the East Main opening, northern suburbs should watch Polaris, and West Side folks have Holt Road coming in early 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the new Dunkin' locations in Columbus?

East Main Street near Reynoldsburg, Polaris Parkway, Holt Road on the West Side and Winchester Pike in Canal Winchester, plus Delaware, Pataskala and three unnamed sites.

When does the first new Dunkin' open?

The East Main Street store is expected in late November 2026, followed by Polaris Parkway in December. The operator has said dates may change.

Is Dunkin' hiring for the new Columbus stores?

No headcount has been announced. New stores typically hire crew, shift leaders and managers in the weeks before opening, so watch for postings now.

Who operates the new stores?

Gilligan Company, a Cincinnati-based franchisee with 12 Columbus-area Dunkin' stores, is behind most named sites. Operators for Delaware and Pataskala were not identified.

Be First in Line for the New Stores

Create a free LocalJobPage account and set alerts for Dunkin', barista and crew member jobs so the new Columbus postings reach you the day they go live. Browse the Columbus Career Center for more ways to move up.

Employers: Opening a new location in Central Ohio? Post your openings on LocalJobPage and reach Columbus job seekers who are already searching.