The Spokane franchisee for Dutch Bros. coffee stores plans to open a new coffee shop this fall in a recently constructed building near Whitworth University.

Kevin Parker, co-owner of GTG Ventures LLC, which operates all 10 Dutch Bros. coffee stores currently licensed in Spokane County, says Dutch Bros. will occupy the 1,700-square-foot Suite 100 in the building at 11921 N. Division.

Dutch Bros. will move into the space following completion of about $39,500 in renovation work by Spokane-based contractor Kofmehl Inc. to prepare the space for a coffee shop.

“It’s going to be a little different from our typical location in that there will be a little bit of indoor seating for people or grab-and-go areas for their coffee,” Parker says. “A lot of the tables will be standing tables.”

Parker says he expects the shop will open within the next couple of months.

Parker says demand for a Dutch Bros. location in North Spokane factors into the decision to open its new North Division Street coffee shop. The newest Dutch Bros. will be located just across U.S. 395 from the Pine Acres Par 3 golf course and less than a mile southeast of Mead High School.

According to records filed with Spokane County, the building is owned by Spokane-based Wandermere Retail Investors LLC. State department of revenue records show that business is owned by Jeff Johnson, president at Spokane-based real estate company Black Commercial Inc., and by Jeffrey McCloskey, owner and CEO of Spokane-based McCloskey Construction Inc. Neither owner immediately responded to a request for comment.

The building is a good location for Dutch Bros. due to its drive-thru, Parker says.

“We can put a lot of cars on this property, because the cars can wind all the way behind the building,” he says.

About 30 employees will staff the store, Parker says.

Meantime, Dutch Bros. is working to rebuild the coffee stand at 402 S. Freya, Parker says. The stand was demolished following an incident in August in which a dump truck crashed into the building. 

“We’ve been really touched by the outpouring of support by the community,” Parker says. “Most of our customers are going to other Dutch Bros. locations.”

A nearly identical replacement store will likely be completed next year, he says. Parker declines to disclose the cost of the replacement building.

“We don’t have final numbers on that, but it’s not cheap, because we have to redo the entire building,” Parker says.

When the Freya stand is completed, it will employ about 20 people, he says.

Parker says his Dutch Bros. franchise  employs about 250 people in the Spokane area.

The Grants Pass, Oregon-based parent company, Dutch Bros. Inc., announced an initial public offering on Sept. Trading on the Nasdaq exchange under the symbol BROS, Dutch Bros. stock was valued at $43.07 a share at market close on Tuesday, Oct. 5.

“We’re in the quiet phase of that,” Parker says of the IPO. “I don’t think I’m legally allowed to say much about it. It’s been exciting. It’s a big step for the company. It elevates it in some new ways.”

Like this story?
You’ll love the rest. Subscribe today, and you’ll receive a year’s subscription to the Journal of Business, unlimited access to this website, daily business news emails, and weekly industry-specific
e-newsletters. Click here for 50% off your first year.