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A line of about 20 deep had already formed when employees of Dunkin' Donuts opened the chain's first store in Utah at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday. It kept growing from there.

"The line has been pretty steady ever since," said Keeley Hages, brand marketing manager. "[We] had about 200 people go through in the first three hours."

Some waiting for the doors to open at 217 E. 400 South in Salt Lake City in the early morning darkness "even brought their kids," she said. Through midday, the line snaked out the door and around the building.

For those eagerly anticipating doughnuts, coffee and other food treats, it was worth the wait.

"I grew up on Dunkin' Donuts in California," said Julio Espinoza, who was almost at the counter to place his order. "I've been waiting for this for a long time."

"We're from New England," said Kathy Robinson. "We couldn't believe it when we moved here a year-and-a-half ago and there were no Dunkin' Donuts. I've been dying for [it] ever since."

The long-awaited opening of the initial Utah Dunkin' Donuts began with free samples and other goodies for those first in line.

Franchisee Sizzling Platter LLC remodeled a former Burger King restaurant across from the Salt Lake City Main Library for the new shop, which includes a drive-through window.

The drive-through is open around the clock. Hours for the restaurant are 4:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., seven days a week.

Sizzling Platter operates and manages restaurant locations across seven western states. The firm plans to open 22 additional Dunkin' Donuts stores along the Wasatch Front and in northern Utah in the next five years.