A Dunkin’ location on Main Street will now operate 24 hours a day following an approval of an amendment to its common victualer’s (CV) license at a Select Board hearing in April.

Raj Patel, a representative of the family business that owns the Dunkin location at 31 Main Street, met with the board to discuss the change. Patel’s family has owned the restaurant since December 2020 and also owns other Dunkin locations in Milford at South Main Street, East Street and Medway Road. 

The franchisees hold a total of 26 Dunkin locations spanning from Milford and into Boston and as far north as Salem.

“Over the past few months…we have seen a huge upward growth in sales and demand in the area,” Patel told the Select Board at its April 6 meeting. He noted the store currently operates from 4:30 a.m.-10 p.m. and has received requests for extended hours from community members.

“If approved by the board, we would like to make this operation 24 hours, but that would be drive-thru [only] between 10 p.m. and 4:30 in the morning,” he explained.

When asked by the board, Patel clarified that the change in operating hours only was confined to its Main Street location and would not be implemented at its other Milford stores. In regard to potential safety concerns, he added that the business relies on local emergency services, hires local staff and tries to keep the restaurant a safe environment.

“We have been able to keep everything quiet and operationally smooth,” Patel added.

As to what has driven the change in demand, Patel attributed it to coming out of restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

He also noted that many Dunkin’ locations previously had operated 24 hours a day prior to the pandemic. “During COVID, because of demand being declined, stores were asked to not operate 24 hours because the franchisor and franchisee were having problems supporting the payroll,” Patel said.

Following discussion on the request, the Select Board voted unanimously to approve the license amendment for the restaurant; and Chair Thomas O’Loughlin said the change in the license was active immediately.