End Of An Era: Lusby’s First And Only Locally Owned Dunkin’/Baskin-Robbins Closes After Exactly 20 Years

LUSBY, Md. — Today marks a milestone of both immense pride and deep sadness for the Lusby community. Exactly 20 years to the day after first opening its doors on July 15, 2006, the Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins multi-brand location in Lusby has permanently closed.

As the very first Dunkin’ in Calvert County, and still the county’s only locally owned and operated location, this store has been a true community staple for two decades.

The journey began in 2006 when Nance Pretto and Kelvin Simmons co-founded the location. Navigating the demanding early days of a new business as a young mother to an infant and a toddler, Pretto grew the franchise into a highly decorated community staple. Over the last two decades, her leadership earned extensive recognition from the brand as well as from state and local entities.

Pretto’s accolades include but not limited to being honored as Business of the Year, Minority Business of the Year and Woman Business of the Year by esteemed organizations such as the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce, the Southern Maryland Minority Chamber of Commerce and the Concerned Black Women of Calvert County.

Beyond the walls of her store, Pretto dedicated herself entirely to the growth of Southern Maryland. She founded the Lusby Business Association to champion and support fellow local business owners, served on multiple county boards, partnered with county agencies to provide inclusive employment opportunities and consistently donated to local charities and community groups. For Pretto, the store was never just a business; it was a vehicle to uplift the entire Lusby community.

“This is an incredibly emotional day for all of us,” said Nance Pretto, owner of the Lusby franchise. “We want to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who made these last 20 years a success. To our loyal customers—many of whom have been with us since day one—thank you for letting us be a part of your daily routines, your family milestones and your lives. To the county officials and the broader community who supported us every step of the way, we are profoundly grateful.”

Special recognition and heartfelt thanks go out to the dedicated employees whose hard work and loyalty defined the store’s warm, welcoming atmosphere.

“Our staff was the heartbeat of this business. We could not have served this community for two decades without their incredible dedication,” Nance added. “To those who found out about the closing today and reached out with kind words, wishes and disappointment: your comments and thoughts have not gone unnoticed. It means the world to us.”

Making history as the first—and ultimately the only—Black female-led franchisee for the international brand, Pretto said while it is time for new adventures, the circumstances of the closing are incredibly bittersweet. Despite two decades of successful, dedicated service, corporate leadership chose to take a seemingly punitive stance rather than supporting the county’s only local operator.

It is a disheartening reminder of how corporate decisions can actively undermine the very local partners who put them on the map.

While we are proud of our legacy, we are deeply saddened that corporate bad faith politics that were prioritized over community stability.

For the loyal patrons, neighbors and community members who are saddened or frustrated by the loss of Calvert County’s only locally owned Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins, should contact Dunkin’ Brands corporate customer service directly: via customerservice@dunkinbrands.com or phone: 1-800-859-5339 with any comments, questions or complaints.

“We will miss you all terribly, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for an unforgettable 20 years in Lusby,” said Nance.