Fayetteville-based 7 Brew Coffee now has two drive-thru stands open on JFK Boulevard in North Little Rock. The first opened in December in the place of a demolished Regions Bank at the corner of JFK and McCain Boulevard. The new prefabricated stand is located about two miles north on a lot that formerly housed a U.S. Bank in front of the Indian Hills Shopping Center at 7001 JFK Blvd. Each new stand is located about a stone’s throw from a Starbucks.
I decided to turn my car around on my way to the office Monday morning to check out the new stand after being informed that Arkansas Times publisher Alan Leveritt’s dog had relieved himself on my cubicle again.
Rhett BrinkleyIt just so happened to be the new coffee shop’s Swag Day, and there were about 10 lively employees celebrating the opening just outside the drive-thru lanes. They were so welcoming that I really did begin to feel better about my office cubicle situation and could see myself potentially having a good morning, perhaps even a good day. I ordered the medium house blend Americano with no cream or sweetener added and was told that if I upgraded to a large for $3.50, I could score a free 7 Brew t-shirt with my order. Things were really starting to look up for me. I was informed that three shots of espresso come in a medium, though, so I downgraded to two shots for my large drink. I feared the employees might think I’m an imposter, so I let them know that I was planning on drinking more coffee throughout the day.
Rhett Brinkley7 Brew’s signature seven coffee drinks lean on the creamy, sweetened side, but you can make an adjustment using their sweetness scale ranging from sugar free to ¼ to ½ to regular to extra sweet. The menu also includes smoothies, shakes, lemonades and fruity energy drinks.
7 Brew has 29 stores in Arkansas according to its website. Last year alone, Northwest Arkansas franchisee Brew Crew LLC opened 7 Brews at 11100 N. Rodney Parham Road at the site of the former Shorty Small’s; 11418 W. Markham St., where TCBY once stood; 8023 Cantrell Road; 3212 E. Race Ave. in Searcy; 918 W. Main St. in Cabot; and 1415 Military Road in Benton, in addition to the stand at 4900 JFK Blvd.
Brandon Sebald, CEO of Brew Crew LLC, told the Arkansas Times in December that the company is looking to expand into the Hot Springs and Bryant markets. Brew Crew has rights to develop 100 stores across Arkansas, Texas, Missouri and Louisiana, Sebald said.
Last month, Fayetteville Flyer reported that New York-based asset manager Blackstone announced plans to invest in 7 Brew as part of a strategy to further the company’s rapid expansion throughout the U.S.
7 Brew opened its original location in Rogers in 2017.
