Exactly 20 years to the day after opening its doors, the locally owned Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins in Lusby permanently closed on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. The multi-brand restaurant opened on July 15, 2006, at 174 Village Center Drive as Calvert County’s first Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins location.
The store, stablished by husband-and-wife entrepreneurs Nance Pretto Simmons and Kelvin Simmons. Historical reports confirm the business began operating in July 2006 and quickly became known for regularly supporting charitable organizations throughout Southern Maryland.
“This is an incredibly emotional day for all of us,” said Nance Pretto, owner of the Lusby franchise. “We want to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who made these last 20 years a success. To our loyal customers—many of whom have been with us since day one—thank you for letting us be a part of your daily routines, your family milestones and your lives,” Pretto continued.
“To the county officials and the broader community who supported us every step of the way, we are profoundly grateful.” From its earliest days, the business made community involvement a central part of its operations. Less than a year after opening, Pretto and Simmons had established an organized process through which unused baked goods and other products were donated to area organizations.
Recipients over the years included the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Maryland, Southern Pines Senior Center, Optimist Club of Calvert, Calvert County Public Schools, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maryland, Girl Scouts, the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, Solomons Volunteer Fire Department, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Calvert Hospice, SMILE and numerous other community organizations and events.
“It’s just a way for us to give back and support the community since the community also supports us,” Pretto said in 2007. “It helps to make us a part of the neighborhoods that we have chosen to do business with and creates a nice relationship with our customers.”
Pretto said the restaurant’s employees were essential to keeping the business operating and serving customers for two decades.
“Our staff was the heartbeat of this business. We could not have served this community for two decades without their incredible dedication,” Pretto said. “To those who found out about the closing today and reached out with kind words, wishes and disappointment: your comments and thoughts have not gone unnoticed. It means the world to us.”
During her years as a business owner, Pretto received numerous recognitions, including Business of the Year, Minority Business of the Year and Woman Business of the Year honors from organizations such as the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce, the Southern Maryland Minority Chamber of Commerce and the Concerned Black Women of Calvert County.
The Lusby Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins also received a Calvert County Chamber of Commerce Small Business Award in 2016.
Pretto’s involvement extended beyond the restaurant. She founded the Lusby Business Association to advocate for local businesses, served on county boards, worked with county agencies to create inclusive employment opportunities and routinely supported local charities and community groups.
For Pretto, the restaurant was not simply a franchise. She viewed it as a way to invest in the community and provide opportunities for local residents.
Pretto described herself as the first—and ultimately the only—Black female-led franchisee for the international brand in the area. She said the decision to close was bittersweet and alleged that actions taken by corporate leadership contributed to the closure. “Despite two decades of successful, dedicated service, corporate leadership chose to take a seemingly punitive stance rather than supporting the county’s only local operator,” Pretto said.
She further characterized the dispute as an example of corporate decisions undermining local franchise operators who spent years establishing the brand within their communities. “While we are proud of our legacy, we are deeply saddened that corporate bad-faith politics were prioritized over community stability,” Pretto said.
Those statements represent Pretto’s characterization of the circumstances surrounding the closure. Dunkin’ corporate leadership had not publicly responded to those specific allegations as of publication.
The relationship between Pretto and Dunkin’ has previously been the subject of federal litigation. Court records show legal actions involving Pretto, her franchise company and Dunkin’ entities were filed in 2017.
Despite the circumstances surrounding the closing, Pretto said she remains proud of what the business accomplished and grateful to the generations of customers who supported it.
“We will miss you all terribly, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for an unforgettable 20 years in Lusby,” Pretto said.
Customers wishing to provide comments or ask questions regarding the closure may contact Dunkin’ Brands customer service at [email protected] or 1-800-859-5339.
