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Q: Upon our return to Naples last week from Massachusetts, my wife and I expected to have a cup of our favorite coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts. To my surprise, the three very busy Dunks that we frequent are all out of business: Davis Boulevard and 951, East Trail next to the defunct Rogero’s (Italian Bistro), and North Trail north of Randy’s (Fish Market Restaurant). Any word on what happened to them?

-- John Sullivan, Naples

A: John, you are not the only one in Collier County who runs on Dunkin.’ The closing of at least five area Dunkin’ Donuts has left a big hole in morning routines. I have received questions from at least a half-dozen other area residents wondering why it’s no longer time to make the doughnuts here.

The Dunkin’ Donuts locations closed were in Naples Park in North Naples; off Collier Boulevard on Marco Island; and in East Naples at the Collier County Government Center, Naples Towne Centre, and the corner of Davis and Collier boulevards.

Three Dunkin’ Donuts in North Naples still are open: one in Mission Square on Pine Ridge Road and two off Immokalee Road -- one near Gulf Coast High School and one near Sam’s Club.

The county contract was up for the Dunkin’ Donuts/Subway at the government center, and the employees just wanted a change, said Skip Camp, director of facilities management.

An employee selection committee chose to replace the franchise with Russell’s Clambakes, a local catering company that operates the Naples Pier concession. The new location opened Sept. 1.

“(Subway and Dunkin’ Donuts) had been here for eight years or so and their contract with us ran out,” Camp said. “After eight years on the campus, I think the employees just wanted something else. They’ve done a great job for us, but their contract ran out.”

The franchise agreements expired on at least some of the other area locations, most of which were owned by the same franchisee. The company, Dunkin’ Brands Inc., did not renew these franchises.

However, Dunkin’ spokeswoman Susanne Norwitz said the company is committed to serving Collier County. Dunkin’ Donuts is in the midst of a national expansion to triple its U.S. franchise locations to 15,000 by 2020.

That expansion will be evident here next year. The Dunkin’ Donuts franchisee for Lee County, David McNulty of Fort Myers, plans to open five or six Dunkin’ Donuts in Collier County.

“Were going to be very aggressive in getting locations open in 2008,” said Lindsey Schmoyer, a real estate broker representing McNulty.

One possible site is the Sugden Park Plaza, under construction near the corner of U.S. 41 East and Lakewood Boulevard. But despite a premature report that contracts were signed for that location, Schmoyer said negotiations continue.

“We submitted an offer, but we are looking at a number of sites,” she said.

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Tim Aten is multimedia news editor of the Daily News. E-mail questions with your name and city of residence to intheknow@naplesnews.com.

For a complete archive of "In the Know" columns, click on naplesnews.com/news/local/intheknow/