Dutch Bros Coffee plans to expand its Denver presence with a new drive-thru at , according to plans filed with the city in late April by architecture, engineering and construction firm .
Plans prepared by the Pennsylvania-based firm show the new 986-square-foot building at 7150 Leetsdale Drive will feature a customer walk-up window facing Leetsdale Drive to the east of the Family Dollar in the parking lot.
In addition to pedestrian features, plans call for two drive-thru lanes with stacking for up to 17 vehicles, as well as a bypass/exit lane. The property will also include six parking spaces, one ADA-compliant space and three mobile-order pickup spaces, along with a new trash enclosure and interior landscaping.
“Dutch Bros Coffee continues to grow; wherever it does, the love, donations and smiles grow with it,” said a narrative included with the project plans. cq comment=”cq” ] cq comment=”cq” ]
The new location will feature a selection of beverages, including Private Reserve Coffee, White Coffee and Decaf Coffee as espresso options, all roasted in Grants Pass, Ore.
The expansion reflects the company’s broader growth strategy as Dutch Bros plans to build more than . The company operates more than 600 drive-thru locations across 11 states and employs more than 12,000 people, according to the project narrative.
Instead of traditional ordering systems, the company will use a “runner” approach at the proposed location, in which employees move through the line taking orders with handheld devices that send them directly to in-store drink stations.
Runners will also handle payment while customers are in line, so orders can be picked up at the service window.
Plans said the system is designed to reduce wait times while increasing face-to-face interaction with customers. The drive-thru will also not include any speaker boxes, a setup intended to minimize noise impacts and decrease the amount of vehicle idling at menu boards that are common at traditional drive-thru facilities.
The site planned for the Dutch Bros project was acquired earlier this year for $13 million by a partnership led by Newport Beach-based real estate firm Citivest Commercial, which from Denver-based Legacy Capital Partners.
