Second Dunkin’ Donuts location may be brewing

WINSTED — The Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled to review site plans for a new Dunkin’ Donuts store during its next regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 27, at 7 p.m.According to Town Manager Dale Martin, the plans for the store were submitted to the town by Joe Naples, who currently owns and operates a Dunkin’ Donuts store at 3 Main St. and a store in Southbury.The planned location for the new Dunkin’ Donuts is the former location of Gateway Auto Repair on 760 Main St.Gateway Auto was a used car lot and automotive repair shop which was started in 2000 by Robert Zablocki. Zablocki passed away in 2012, and Gateway Auto closed immediately afterward.Since Zablocki died, the property has been vacant and dormant.According to the assessor’s database, the building itself was constructed in 1969 and the property is assessed at $141,750.The property is between the Beardsley and Memorial Library at 40 Munro Place and the Second Congregational Church of Winsted on 800 Main St.On one side the property faces Hinsdale Elementary School on 15 Hinsdale Ave., while on the opposite side it faces the west end of Main Street and Route 44.“The front entrance of the building will be facing the church, while the drive-thru will start near Hinsdale Avenue and move around until it parallels towards Route 44,” Martin said. “The owner wants to get this up and running as soon as possible.”Commission member Barbara Wilkes said while a second Dunkin’ Donuts store would be great for Winsted, she hopes the exterior of the store will fit into a historic New England building design.“I don’t think the design is going to look too different than the one they have now,” Martin said.