Dunkin' Donuts to launch 99-cent menu in Chicago

Chicago Dunkin' Donuts plans to launch a new 99-cent menu at 500 Chicago locations on Monday and hand out 20,000 gift cards pre-loaded with $2 each to lure customers.

The chain said it would give out the gift cards at commuter stations, downtown plazas and other pedestrian-friendly areas in Chicago and its suburbs, starting at 7 a.m. on Monday.

The dollar-menu concept among fast-food chains has been extremely popular, particularly amid the economic downturn. Some analysts say dollar menus are a necessity for chains hoping to compete with the likes of McDonald's Corp. and others.