BizBeat: Baskin-Robbins closes but may return with Dunkin' Donuts

Jefferson City just lost 31 flavors, but they might not be gone forever.

Baskin-Robbins closed its ice cream shop on Missouri Boulevard last week after a presence spanning at least 30 years in the Capital City.

The local restaurant is closing to make way for a future combination Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin-Robbins (DD/BR) shop in Jefferson City, said Terry Haverkamp, Baskin-Robbins Midwest regional director.

"We actually have a franchisee that has purchased the rights to the territory - not just this territory, but also Columbia. The same franchisee that is developing there has the rights to develop here (in Jefferson City)," said Todd Hiebert, Midwest district manager for Klinke Brothers Ice Cream Company, the territorial franchisor that was most recently involved in ownership of the Jefferson City Baskin-Robbins.

The franchise group recently announced intent to construct a new DD/BR location in southern Columbia. Dunkin' Donuts is a sister company to Baskin-Robbins, and the two share franchising territories. The Columbia restaurant is targeted to open in April 2015, Hiebert said.

The group also plans to open a second Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin-Robbins location in Columbia and one in Jefferson City during the second half of 2015, although no solid plans have been made nor real estate purchased for those.

Closing the current Baskin-Robbins "gives them more flexibility to come up with a location that fits their needs," Haverkamp said, noting a combination DD/BR would require a location convenient for coffee drinkers as well as ice cream lovers.

"We're looking forward to having a combination Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin-Robbins location in Jefferson City. Unfortunately, it means we disappear for a short time while we get things situated," Haverkamp said.

For those craving Baskin-Robbins treats now that the current shop has closed, Hiebert noted Schnucks grocery in Jefferson City offers pint containers of seven popular ice cream flavors.