By Nick Archacki, managing editor

For almost a decade, Meadville has been waiting for another chain restaurant to come through and modernize the area. Today marks a new beginning as Meadville welcomed a worldwide phenomenon near Applebee’s and Chovy’s on Route 322.

Dunkin’ Donuts, an American favorite coffee and donut chain, held its grand opening this morning starting at 6 a.m. It joins Tim Horton’s as the only chain coffee and donut shops in the area, and Dunkin’s location just off the Meadville I-79 North exit should make it a popular location. 

Local radio station Froggy 100.3 and 98.5 and Jet 24/Fox 66 News was at Dunkin’ this morning to celebrate the opening. It was reported that people began lining up outside the store at 2 a.m. in the frigid 10-degree weather. The first 200 customers to come to the restaurant this morning received a free refillable Dunkin’ drink holder. 

According to the Meadville Tribune, Dunkin’ is the first new chain in Meadville since Tim Horton’s, which arrived about 10 years ago, and many local caffeine lovers are excited to have a location so close to home, as the closest Dunkin’ to Meadville before today was in Erie. 

Dunkin’ is located at 18200 Conneaut Lake Rd. Meadville, PA and can be found on Facebook at ‘Dunkin’ Donuts Meadville, PA.’ Their hours are 4:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.