The Duluth News Tribune reports that a Central Entrance liquor store is being demolished right now to make way for the city’s first Dunkin’ Donuts franchise.

This event is replete with the symbolism of the end of a business that supports active alcoholics and the beginning of a business that supports recovering alcoholics.

Will Dunkin’ Donuts complete the work left unfinished by Krispy Kreme’s unsuccessful incursion into the upper Midwest a decade ago? Only time will tell. As donut biz pros would say, get knocked down 12 times, get up a baker’s dozen.

As reported last summer, the developer plans other Dunkin’ Donuts shops around Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin — including Superior, Hibbing, Grand Rapids and Brainerd. That timeline, however, will span two or three years.