Arts Vanity: What the JFK Street Dunkin’ Renovation Means for Harvard

Dunkin’, occupying an advantageous location on the corner of JFK Street, is a cornerstone of Harvard. Nothing in the square parallels its sense of true Boston authenticity. The chain’s location on Church St., while admirable, does not have the appeal of its authentic predecessor. It’s too modern — too posh. The ruggedness, under the guise of its striped awning, makes the JFK St. Dunkin’ the only place one could seek asylum from the swank of other coffee joints in the square. Things, however, seem to have changed.

In a downright sneaky manner, the JFK St. Dunkin’ is now almost completely refurbished. Starting in early November, customers eagerly awaited their orders in a Dunkin’ devoid of many interior furnishings, including their donuts. Wall menus — while seemingly necessary to order — were noticeably absent. With countertops laying on the ground and light fixtures missing, I asked myself: Who, or what, capsized my favorite location in the Square?

This was no unplanned destruction. Dunkin’ was truly renovating without closing. Over the next weeks, the store transformed completely right in front of our eyes: New tiles glistened from the shine of the donut glaze, and the countertops were adhered to the walls again. Unsurprisingly, a particular new addition quickly arrived to the location: coffee on tap. Dunkin’s elixir spouts will forever change the vintage landmark.

It is unclear if Dunkin’ aimed to blend in with the other renovations of the Square, or if they wanted to avoid the paparazzi attention that comes with a makeover. Regardless, we all took notice. The removal of the trash can adorned with multi-sized straws near the rear entrance will undoubtedly result in a net loss of five seconds from exiting the store. If that wasn’t enough to get your heart racing, imagine the bewilderment of arriving to find your drink already waiting for you when mobile ordering.

What does the JFK St. Dunkin’ have to do with Harvard? Oh you know — just everything. The JFK St. Dunkin’ is irrevocably tied to the integrity of Harvard. Both pillars of excellence are steeped in the history of this great nation — after all, America runs on Dunkin’. As enduring Massachusetts landmarks, both renowned institutions fuel their loyal followings through the lifeblood of productivity and intellect.

Albeit coming with the inevitable discomfort with the modern revamping of a beloved location, the novel improvements of the JFK Dunkin’ are wicked astonishing. The location’s new open, airy feel is sure to appeal to Dunkin’ lovers and new customers alike — maybe even enticing Blue Bottle patrons to make the switch from artisanal lattes to a traditional New England cup of joe. However, some things will never be the same. I will forever miss the distinct traditional Boston allure of the original, and Harvard surely will too.

—Outgoing Editor-at-Large and frequent JFK St. Dunkin’ visitor Monique I. Vobecky can be reached at monique.vobecky@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @moniquevobecky. If you wish to inquire about her expertise in this field, Monique’s 2024 Dunkin passport revealed she visited the JFK St. Dunkin’ a whopping 31 times this semester. She feels passionately that a medium iced original blend coffee with one pump of unsweetened blueberry is the best order, but will accept recommendations on a first-come, first-serve basis.