Though rumors have been circulating about Dunkin’ (formerly Dunkin’ Donuts) taking over Lincoln Square — the small L-shaped strip mall at the southwest corner of North Lincoln Road and First Avenue North — no deal has yet been finalized.

However, it’s important to give tenants plenty of notice before a potential sale, said Kim Carne, one of the building’s current owners. “You can’t just give them a month to move out,” she said.

Looking toward the future, the businesses that occupied space in the strip have been preparing for the property’s redevelopment.

Holiday Travel, previously located at the southeast end with an address of 111 N. Lincoln Rd., recently nestled into a new home at 901 N. Lincoln Rd., which is in Lincoln Fair Plaza near Richardson Jewelers. The travel agency announced they had officially moved on April 2.

Holiday Travel has found new premises in a corner space of Lincoln Fair Plaza. "The same team you know and trust is here, ready to keep planning your vacations," the business posted on social media, asking people to please excuse some dust as they're still settling in. (Daily Press)

“(Our new location) still has the easy access and convenient parking that our clients count on — because we know how much that matters,” said Holiday Travel Owner DeeDee Anderson. She said they love the new place and mentioned the value of having a brick-and-mortar office as opposed to only working with clients over the phone or online.

“The best part is that every single one of our agents made the move with us, and they’re just as excited about the new space as I am,” Anderson added.

Holiday Travel had been in Lincoln Square since the plaza opened in 1984, but has operated in Escanaba even longer — since 1978. DeeDee is the daughter of the founder, Lois Anderson, and the two worked side by side for years.

Radio Shack also was an early tenant that did very well when they moved to Lincoln Square, enjoying the “high traffic volume” in the area, then-General Manager Craig Gierke told the Daily Press in 1985.

The only remaining occupant of the little mall now eyed by the doughnut franchise is Papa Murphy’s, locally-owned by Ray and Michelle O’Connor. Michelle confirmed that the Escanaba take-and-bake pizza place would “definitely be moving.”

Sunday is Papa Murphy’s last day in Lincoln Square.

While there will be a temporary pause in operations until their new location is ready, Michelle emphasized that it wouldn’t be a closure for Papa Murphy’s when they leave 123 N. Lincoln Rd. The address of the pizza franchise’s future home was not disclosed.

At the north end of Lincoln Square, the last tenant had been “Check and Cash,” which closed about a year ago. The strip mall had previously offered four total occupancies, but that is likely to soon change.

Lincoln Square’s current owner, Anders Company, has been looking for a buyer for some time. The prime location on U.S. 2 caught the attention of TMart, owned by Jeremy Alsaker of Wisconsin.

TMart is a franchise group that operates Dunkin’, Baskin-Robbins, Cousin Subs, A&W and Rocky Rococo locations throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula.

In November 2024, TMart opened a combined Dunkin’ and Baskin Robbins in Houghton. A TV6 article at the time mentioned that the franchise was considering “four to five more locations in the U.P.” and that possible locations were “Manistique, Ironwood and Escanaba.”

The City of Escanaba has received an application for zoning approval and plans for the Lincoln Square site, confirmed Planning & Zoning Administrator Joey Walker.

If the sale goes through, TMart would intend to demolish the existing structure and erect a new one.

The nearest business to the Lincoln Square lot is Donut Connection, at the east end of the Mini-Mall on First Avenue North. Other neighbors are ECO Fuels to the south, Aspen Dental to the north, and Wendy’s across the highway to the east.

As a sale is not complete, none of the parties involved in negotiations have issued any formal announcement, though a representative for TMart said they “should have more information within the next 30 to 60 days.”

The Daily Press aims to keep readers apprised as developments emerge.