Dunkin’ Breaks Ground On New Drive-Thru Location In California

CALIFORNIA, Md. — Construction is underway on a new stand-alone Dunkin’ in California, bringing the coffee and doughnut shop one step closer to relocating within the Laurel Glen Shopping Center.

Crews and construction equipment were visible at the site Wednesday, July 22, at 45315 Alton Lane, where the new restaurant is being built in a portion of the shopping center’s parking lot.

The move will not take Dunkin’ far. The existing restaurant is located nearby at 22861 Three Notch Road, in the shopping center beside Blair’s Jewelry. The two addresses are within the same Laurel Glen shopping area and are separated by only a short drive.

A New Stand-Alone Restaurant

The St. Mary’s County Planning Commission unanimously approved the concept site plan for the project in May 2025.

According to plans presented at the time, the new 1,861-square-foot restaurant will include drive-thru service and more than 700 square feet of outdoor seating. Its stand-alone design is intended to provide improved access, visibility and traffic flow compared with the current strip mall location.

Planning Commission Chairman Howard Thompson called the project a “win-win situation” when it was approved.

“If you go by that [existing] Dunkin’ in the early mornings, you know it’s a mess,” Thompson said. “This project improves safety, access and the shopping center overall.”

The applicant, Anthony Oleksan, representing Shanri Holdings Corp., said during the 2025 meeting that the development would also help revitalize the shopping center.

“We’ve been working closely with the shopping center’s owner and tenants to coordinate the redevelopment,” Oleksan said. “There’s plenty of room to do this right, and it’ll benefit both customers and businesses.”

Construction Now Moving Forward

The project received a 6-0 approval after county planning staff determined that the site plan met requirements involving landscaping, parking, utility access and resource protection.

Road improvements must be completed in connection with the restaurant receiving its certificate of occupancy.

An anticipated completion or opening date for the new Dunkin’ has not yet been announced. The current California Dunkin’ remains listed at 22861 Three Notch Road.

Read The BayNet’s original coverage of the project’s approval here.