Keith Jones returned to St Joseph from the Vietnam War, kicked around a few jobs here before landing one at the then-new Dunkin’ Donuts at 3705 Frederick in August of 1972.

Less than ten years later he had earned a business degree at Missouri Western and bought the franchise. He has operated the store ever since.

On Tuesday, Jones made good on an earlier announcement and closed the store. But he says three local businesspeople will make soon announce a new Dunkin’ Donuts franchise at a new location.

Jones said his franchise agreement and his lease agreement ended at roughly the same time, and the decision was made not to continue with Dunkin’ Donuts.

“The financial feasibility of operating the store without a drive-through just wasn’t there,” Jones said. “You need a drive-thorugh in this day and age to be a Dunkin’ Donuts.”

Jones says a new franchise is coming, and says we can expect a formal announcement in a couple of weeks.

“I could have put up another store, which I chose not to do because I’ll be 62 this summer,” Jones said.

Jones says a new franchise agreement would have required a ten-year commitment, and putting up a new building would have required a 20-year agreement.

Jones says his son has managed the store, and agreed not to move forward with Dunkin’ Donuts.

But he says Dunkin’ is a “strong brand,” mainly in the northeastern United States and moving west.