Dunkin' Donuts, Emporium close on Kirkwood Avenue

Pedestrians seeking a caffeine fix Monday morning found themselves shut out of the Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant at 517 E. Kirkwood Ave.

“I’ve only been once, but I was really looking forward to going back,” IU freshman Matt Gillam said.

The store’s last day of operation was Sunday.

The Kirkwood Avenue Dunkin’ Donuts location originally opened in the Von Lee Theater building in July 2008.

While Dunkin’ Donuts did receive its health license from the Monroe County Health Department, food protection supervisor Sylvia Garrison said she had no information as to why the store closed.

Further down Kirkwood Avenue, Emporium-Earthly Goods & Treasures also announced with storefront signs its planned closing Monday morning.

However, co-owner Joseph Hunt said the store will continue to operate until all merchandise and hardware within the store has been sold.

The store has sold beads, gemstone jewelry and other nature-themed gifts since it opened in 2002, Hunt said.

He said demographic changes in the downtown area and a tough economy contributed to the decision to close the store.

“We’re not interested in adapting the way we run our store,” Hunt said. “We just do what we do, and I think we’ve done a pretty good job of it.” 

Similar gift stores such as Wandering Turtle Art Gallery and Gifts and LadyBugs Gifts & Teas in downtown Bloomington have also closed in recent months, Emporium co-owner Andrea Hunt said.

Joseph Hunt said customers have seemed disappointed to see the store go.

“Many people have come in to say how sad they are that we’re closing,” he said. “We’re not complaining about the close. It’s not a tragedy.”