CSUN Alumnus Brings Popular Chain Close to Home

  • CSUN graduate Aharon Aminpour, a Dunkin' Donuts franchisee, is opening up a store right next to campus. Photo by Lee Choo.

Besides the obvious goal of making money, California State University, Northridge alumnus Aharon Aminpour ‘99 (Biology) had a couple of other aims when he purchased a Dunkin’ Donuts franchise: Bring a store close to CSUN and hire Matadors.

“I really wanted to open a store next to my alma mater,” Aminpour said. “There will be a lot of CSUN memorabilia inside as well.”

Aminpour said he’ll be looking to hire multiple CSUN students before the store opens in May.

Although he majored in Biology, Aminpour said his heart was always in business. As a student, the California native had small businesses on the side, selling items like cell phones and beepers to help pay his tuition.

“I originally wanted to go into the medical field, but I grew up with a dad who always had his own businesses,” Aminpour said. “I realized after college that business was where my passion was.”

Besides choosing locations for Dunkin’ Donuts, Aminpour also oversees building construction and the hiring of staff, does lease negotiations and oversees five stores to ensure each keeps a high standard.

The first Dunkin’ Donuts Aminpour opened in the San Fernando Valley was in Encino in 2015. By the time the store opened its doors at 5 a.m., there was already a line of more than 100 people, Aminpour said. He also said stores will soon be opening up on Reseda and Ventura Boulevard and in Mission Hills on Sepulveda Boulevard.

Dunkin’ Donuts left the California market in the late 1990s. However, in 2014 the franchise announced it would be coming back to California in force, with plans to open more than a thousand stores across the state.

Aminpour’s Dunkin’ Donuts will be opening a block away from campus on Reseda Boulevard and Vincennes Street. And he has other aims.

“I’ve always wanted to be able to open a store in the Northridge area and I really wanted it to be close to school,” Aminpour said. “My goal now is to be the local go-to place for coffee and breakfast sandwiches. We want people to come here to study and hang out with their buddies — we want to be a part of the community.”

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