Dunkin’ Donuts opens inside Harrah’s Ak-Chin

Coffee and doughnut lovers rejoice.

What’s been billed as Maricopa’s “first and only” Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant held its grand opening Thursday inside Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino.

“This has been about a year-long mission,” said Robert Livingston, Harrah’s vice president and general manager. He spoke to a crowd of city leaders, Harrah’s employees and other community members that gathered in front of the restaurant, which is tucked inside the building’s casino area.

Harrah’s executive staff, Maricopa council members, members of the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce and a representative of the Ak-Chin Indian Community marked the occasion by participating in a “Donut Dunkin’” – a unique substitute to a typical ribbon-cutting. They each took a large doughnut and dipped it into cups of coffee.

The new doughnut restaurant is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The restaurant is open to anyone in the community, not just casino customers. Today, 10 cents from every doughnut sold will be donated to F.O.R. Maricopa.

Livingston said the new Dunkin’ Donuts and other nearby construction cost about $500,000. The restaurant is just one of several projects that have taken place inside Harrah’s this year, including renovation of the Total Rewards area, which opened next to the restaurant a few weeks ago and renovation of The Oasis Lounge, now called the The Lounge, which opened mid-year.

Livingston said the Ak-Chin community continues to invest in the casino as it approaches its 20-year anniversary.

“I think that’s a big deal,” he said.

The casino and resort opened in December 1994.

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino owns the doughnut outlet, but pays a franchise fee to Dunkin’ Donuts, Livingston said. About 20 Harrah’s employees make up the restaurant’s staff.

Colin Ribble, executive chef for Harrah’s, said the Dunkin’ Donuts offers a diverse menu that includes breakfast and lunch sandwiches in addition to its doughnuts and coffee.

“This caters to so many different people,” Ribble said.