Writer: Stephanie Maxwell Newton
An Arkansas coffee company thrives thanks to an efficient business model and focus on a positive atmosphere
Founded in Rogers in 2017, drive-thru coffee company 7 Brew has experienced explosive growth in recent years. You might have noticed one of the 29 Arkansas locations (or made driving through one part of your morning routine), but that’s nothing compared to the now 185 locations that operate out of state—mostly in the Southeast, but also with franchises in Colorado, Michigan, and upstate New York.
How did this Arkansas-based brand skyrocket to the top in just seven years? Nick Newbill, 7 Brew’s marketing director, credits the company’s focus on friendly faces. “Our priority has always been to create a positive and welcoming environment paired with superior speed, quality, and service,” he says. For example, in-person ordering with one of 7 Brew’s chipper “brewistas,” rather than talking to a speakerbox, is built into the brand’s model. The enthusiastic employees don’t just take your order, but also ask how your day is going and make chitchat along the way. There’s even upbeat music filtered to speakers outside. The whole process of placing your order to picking it up at the end of the line might take several minutes, but 7 Brew aims to make that time cheerful and fun. “In a world that is leaning more and more into technology, we stand out because of our dedication to face-to-face communication,” Nick says. “You have to see a 7 Brew location in person to really understand how focused we are on spreading kindness and being a great part of every customer’s day.”
“Our customer is only going to spend a few minutes of their day with us, but we’re going to make it the best part of their day.”
—Nick Newbill, 7 Brew’s Marketing Director
The 7 Brew operation is also an efficient one. The drive-thru-only model means each location takes up less square footage than a dine-in coffee shop, allowing the company to open on sites—and enter new markets—that might not be feasible otherwise. Plus, their modular buildings are quicker to build and install and incur fewer overhead costs. The menu is also streamlined. The name “7 Brew” comes from the company’s seven original coffee drinks, and while their offerings have since expanded to include energy drinks, teas, lemonades, smoothies, and shakes, there’s no pastry case to keep filled or hot food menu; each brewista is focused entirely on interacting with customers and handcrafting drinks.
A Gravette native, Nick was an immediate fan of 7 Brew when founder and CEO John Davidson opened the first location not far from his hometown. Nick was hired as a brewista in college, and his role has grown alongside the company. Now, as marketing director, he is hands-on about ensuring each of the franchises across the nation follow the 7 Brew ethos. “Seeing the transformative growth that has happened over the last couple of years has been exciting, and it all has to do with our customer relationships, the quality of our drinks, and the speedy service that we provide in our drive-thru,” he says. “Our customer is only going to spend a few minutes of their day with us, but we’re going to make it the best part of their day. That’s the lasting impression we leave on our customers through the quality of our products and the merits of our customer service. It’s what keeps them coming back, and it’s what has fueled us into such a fast-growing company with locations that are in incredibly high demand across the nation.”
Some 7 Brew favorites shown above (from left): An Iced Brunette with Caramel Drizzle, Blood Orange 7 Energy Chiller, and Iced Vanilla Matcha with Cold Foam.
Photo courtesy of 7 Brew
