ROCK HILL — Dunkin’ poured the coffee and stacked the orders Tuesday morning as it welcomed patrons back to its “next generation” newly remodeled store, equipped with updated technology, improved energy efficiency, and a modern atmosphere for a hungry community.

Situated along Rock Hill Drive, the renewed 1,100-square-foot store opened its doors for a fresh run on doughnuts, breakfast, and coffee following a brief construction closure. The renovations aimed to modernize operations and improve customer service, according to franchisee Nital Patel.

“The front counter, the POS [point-of-sale] system, new equipment; a lot of things were upgraded to a new system,” Patel said.

Also on the menu of improvements is a new digital drive-thru menu board. The upgrade is just a small taste of a larger, company-required update cycle that calls for locations to refresh roughly every 10 years.

“We have to do it every 10 years,” Patel explained. “I wanted my partners to be there [for the event], and it was less of a cold day. We wanted people to know that we’d be reopening.”

The Rock Hill Dunkin’ location was closed for approximately three weeks during construction. One of the challenges, Patel noted, was keeping work discreet, hammering included, while neighboring businesses, such as Rock Hill Pharmacy, remained open to customers.

The newly remodeled store now features Dunkin’s next generation design, adding a bit of extra sweetener with a more open layout, updated colors and materials, and several technology-driven improvements. These include digital ordering kiosks, a designated mobile pickup area for Dunkin’ Rewards members, and a “Premium Pours” tap system serving cold beverages such as iced coffee, cold brew, and nitro cold brew.

Of note, the location is also designated a DD Green Achievement™ restaurant, meaning it is designed to use approximately 25 percent less energy than a standard Dunkin’ location.

Part of the grand reopening festivities included several promotions, most notably 100 Days of Free Coffee for the first 100 Dunkin’ Rewards members in line at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10. Outside the restaurant, patrons could spin a prize wheel to score merchandise such as pop sockets, beanies, donut keychains, and aviator sunglasses. Inside, guests found a photo booth and an information desk for the 100 Days of Free Coffee promotion.

Later in the morning, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held with local dignitaries, including members of the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce.

Patel said the reopening reinforces Dunkin’s continued presence in Rock Hill and allows the location to resume its role as a community gathering place.

“It’s a new place to hang out,” she said. “People can come, and obviously, get coffee.”

The Rock Hill Dunkin’ employs approximately 10 crew members and is open daily from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. The remodel supported roughly 20 jobs.

Turnout for the reopening exceeded Patel’s expectations, which she credited to strong community interest and effective marketing.

“I was very, very appreciative of the turnout,” Patel said as she observed the busy scene, especially indoors. “It was an amazing turnout, for sure.”