Changes reported for Mattoon Walmart

MATTOON — Shoppers at the Walmart Supercenter on Dettro Drive in Mattoon are noticing some changes to the store. Soon, there will be a new addition inside.

A Dunkin’ Donuts will be opening near the grocery entrance, according to a Walmart employee who requested confidentiality.

The new shop would be the second Dunkin’ location in Mattoon and the third in Coles County. The potential new store will join existing stores in Mattoon and Charleston. Dunkin’ lists both existing locations on its online store locator. The store locator shows the Broadway Avenue and Lincoln Avenue shops already serving customers in the area.

Dunkin’ and its ongoing growth strategy

The company has been in expansion mode nationally. Dunkin’ has been outlining long‑term plans to grow its U.S. restaurant count. That strategy includes opening new units in both traditional storefronts and non‑traditional locations. Non-traditional locations include inside other retailers, travel centers, and campuses, according to a 2021 statement on Dunkin’s growth strategy.

In recent years, Dunkin has highlighted non‑traditional development as a cornerstone of its growth strategy. That includes opening restaurants in venues like airports, hospitals, resorts, college campuses, and large shopping centers, according to those reports.

Industry coverage notes that these smaller, flexible formats allow the brand to reach customers where they already shop or travel. Its mobile app and in‑store technology are designed to keep service quick for people picking up coffee and baked goods. Company leaders have also pointed to non‑traditional sites as a key part of that growth strategy. This includes colocations with other brands and shops inside larger stores.

Walmart is rolling out remodels and upgrades

Walmart, meanwhile, has been rolling out a wave of store remodels and upgrades around the country. The company describes it as its “store of the future” concept. It focuses on improved layouts, wider product selections, and new in‑store features meant to make shopping more convenient and enjoyable. That is according to corporate announcements and national news coverage of the retailer’s remodel program. Adding or refreshing in‑store restaurants and cafés has been one way the retailer has tried to keep customers in the building longer and give them more options during a shopping trip, those reports say.

Representatives of both Dunkin’ and Walmart were contacted for comment, but did not respond before publication.

Additional context provided by Jake Leonard.

Jacob Hamm

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Jacob Hamm covers a wide variety of topics across Central Illinois, such as protests, artistic and cultural events, local economic development, and the occasional column.

The Decatur, Ill. native is a 2023 graduate of Richland Community College (AA, Journalism) and a 2025 graduate of Eastern Illinois University (BA, Broadcast Journalism). He returned to Eastern Illinois in the fall of 2025 to pursue a Master's degree in Communication and Media Studies.

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