Hello Munchkins!

Most of the recent Raleigh-Durham business news has been about layoffs, store closings and other gloom and doom. However, it's seems that there's at least one bright spot in the Triangle's retail scene: donut demand is still going strong. At least, that's what entrepreneur Peter Turner is hoping.

Mr. Turner, through his company DDNC, LLC is planning to open 12 Dunkin' Donuts locations in Raleigh-Durham within the next few years. The ambitious Mr. Turner is also aiming to open 23 Dunkin' Donuts locations in the Minneapolis, Minnesota metro area this year, according to reports by Minnesota Public Radio.

There are already over a dozen (make that a baker's dozen!) Dunkin' Donuts locations in the Raleigh-Durham area,but according to online reports, the Canton, Massachusetts-based Dunkin' Brands wants to open about 38 new Triangle-area Dunkin' Donuts franchises in the next five years.