By 1808Delaware
Coffee and doughnut lovers in Delaware County and the northern Columbus suburbs will soon have more places to grab their morning cup, as Dunkin’ prepares to open new restaurants in Delaware and along Polaris Parkway. The two locations are part of a much larger expansion across Central Ohio, where the national coffee and breakfast chain has at least nine restaurants in development over the coming year. They represent another step in Dunkin’s increasingly visible presence in a market where it once had only a few locations.
For northern Central Ohio, the plans include locations at 714 Polaris Parkway in Westerville, expected to open in December, and another at the Trailhead Crossing development along US 36/37 in Delaware.
A New Stop Along Polaris Parkway
The Polaris restaurant is planned for 714 Polaris Parkway, according to an August announcement from Goodman Real Estate Services Group, which represented Cincinnati-based Gilligan Co. in several Dunkin’ transactions across Central Ohio. The location will add another familiar breakfast and coffee option along one of the region’s busiest retail corridors, which serves shoppers, office workers, and commuters from southern Delaware County and northern Franklin County.
An October 7 report from Columbus Business First identified December 2026 as the anticipated opening month, although the report listed the address as 710 Polaris Parkway. Gilligan Co. is responsible for much of Dunkin’s current expansion. The company operates 12 existing Dunkin’ restaurants in Central Ohio and has at least seven additional locations in development.
Delaware’s Trailhead Crossing Adds Another Name
Farther north, Dunkin’ is among the businesses planned for Trailhead Crossing, a developing retail destination along US 36/37 near Sky View Lane on Delaware’s east side.
The 12-acre project received a significant financial commitment in August when Associated Bank announced a $9 million loan to developer GTZ Properties. Plans call for several buildings accommodating a mix of restaurants and retail services. Dunkin’ will share a three-tenant building with Nothing Bundt Cakes and Pacific Dental Services. Other announced tenants include Chick-fil-A, Chipotle Mexican Grill, and Take 5 Oil Change.
The first businesses at Trailhead Crossing are expected to begin opening in spring 2027, although a specific opening date for Dunkin’ has not been announced. There is also an intriguing question about the company’s Delaware plans. While Goodman Real Estate identified Gilligan Co. with the US 36/37 location, Columbus Business First reported that a separate franchisee has another Delaware restaurant in its development pipeline. It remains unclear whether that represents an additional, distinct Delaware location.
A Growing Presence Across Central Ohio
The expansion reflects how dramatically Dunkin’s position in the Columbus market has changed. Two decades ago, the chain had only two locations in the region. That number had grown to five by 2014 and eight just five years ago. Today, Central Ohio has 33 Dunkin’ restaurants, with at least nine more on the way.
In addition to the Delaware and Polaris projects, the upcoming locations include:
- 6051–6055 East Main Street near Reynoldsburg, expected in late November 2026.
- 1617 Holt Road in Columbus, a former White Castle location, targeted for February or March 2027.
- Winchester Pike near Gender Road in the Canal Winchester area, with a May 2027 opening anticipated.
- A location in Pataskala listed as coming soon.
- Three additional Gilligan projects that remain in the contract stage and have not been publicly identified.
The company’s ambitions extend beyond the current construction pipeline. Travis Sensabaugh, president of Gilligan’s quick-service restaurant division, told Columbus Business First that the operator hopes to add four or five Dunkin’ restaurants annually over the next five or six years.
Competition Heats Up in the Coffee Market
Dunkin’s expansion comes as Central Ohio’s coffee market grows increasingly competitive. Starbucks remains a major presence throughout the region, while Tim Hortons operates more than 40 Central Ohio locations. Newer drive-through-focused chains, including 7 Brew and Dutch Bros, are also pursuing expansion. The competition extends to locally owned coffeehouses, neighborhood cafés, and specialty coffee businesses that continue to attract customers throughout Delaware County and the Columbus metropolitan area.
For Dunkin’, the strategy appears to center on reaching more of the communities and commercial corridors where residents already shop, work, and travel.
For Delaware County customers, the most immediate results will be the new Polaris restaurant later this year and the addition of Dunkin’ to Delaware’s growing US 36/37 commercial corridor in 2027. And if the company’s longer-term expansion plans materialize, those may be only the beginning.
