Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
KOSHER REVERSAL
Boca Dunkin’ to change menu back
Blame the fake bacon. A Dunkin’ in Boca Raton has decided to “de-kosher” after its no-meat menu proved to be unprofitable.
The all-kosher store, which switched its menu in July 2018 to cater to the large Jewish population in southern Palm Beach County, will bring on the bacon, ham and sausage on Nov. 3. About 134,000 Jews call Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Highland Beach home, according to a 2018 survey by the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, but not all are observant.
This store, at 21401 Powerline Road, was the only certified kosher Dunkin’ in Palm Beach County.
“Business-wise, it wasn’t beneficial for us,” said Melanie Ward, a manager for Delray Donuts Network, the franchise that operates the store. “We gave it a year and it just wasn’t working. Sales steadily declined, while expenses increased as of day one.”
The Delray franchise does not operate South Florida’s two other kosher Dunkin’ shops in Dania Beach and Miami Beach.
Kosher guidelines forbid the combination of meat and dairy products, as well as the consumption of pork. The store is certified by the Orthodox Rabbinical Board. All food items in the store, including the coffee and doughnuts, are kosher.
Ward said it was more expen
“It’s upsetting. The Jewish community relies on this Dunkin’ and its bakery.”
Sara Geller, customer, on Boca Dunkin’ switching from all-kosher status
sive to operate as kosher because items needed were not part of the regular supply chain.
“We have to purchase special supplies like tuna and cheese and make special trips to buy fake bacon and other items.” There also was an added expense of paying rabbis each month to do inspections to certify the business as kosher. That costs about $200 a month, she said.
There was confusion about the special menu — which includes egg sandwiches with vegetarian sausage, bacon and ham — from the start, Ward said. “Many non-Jewish customers would complain because they didn’t understand kosher or why they were getting fake bacon.”
“This location refuses to carry any meats. Say they are ‘kosher,’ ” complained Patrick F. on Yelp in June. “So good luck if you want a ham, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich. Hey Dunkin! Contrary to popular belief not everyone in Boca Raton
is Jewish!! Thanks for a waste of time. This town is going down the drain.”
A sign is posted in the store notifying customers about the switch.
Many in the surrounding Jewish community are not happy about the change.
“It’s unfortunate,” said
Michael Mirsky, 25, an Orthodox Jew who learned of the change after ordering a veggie sausage, egg and cheese sandwich. “This is the only kosher option for fast food around here. It’s so convenient. I’ll probably just skip breakfast after it switches.”
Rachel Khaimor, 29, and Sara Geller, 29, were parked in front of the store with a minivan full of kids eating doughnuts with sprinkles. The observant mothers live around the corner and stop in several times a week.
“It’s upsetting. The Jewish community relies on this Dunkin’ and its bakery,” said Geller, who recently moved to South Florida from Long Island. “There are plenty of customers that come here that are not Jewish. This is not a problem in New York. There is a kosher Dunkin’ every two miles.”
Ward has had about 10 calls and emails from customers expressing disappointment about the change. “They have been very understanding that if it’s not working, it’s not working,” Ward said. “There just wasn’t as much demand from the community as we were expecting.”