Four years after plans were originally approved with the city, a second 7 Brew Drive Thru Coffee location is now open in Colorado Springs. Developers opened the coffee stand at the corner of 26th Street and U.S. 24 in mid-July, meeting a timeline expectation set by project developer and Sussex Group Brew 1 CEO Thomas Esposito earlier in the summer.

The existing building on the 0.7-acre parcel — the former Garden of the Gods Market and Café, which moved to downtown in 2021 — was demolished to make way for a 510-square-foot building and three queuing lanes. The site features a pass-thru lane, as well as a traditional drive-thru lane, to allow customers who received their drinks before those at the front to efficiently exit the parking lot.

Developers originally presented plans to city officials to develop three 7 Brew locations of the Rogers, Ark.-based chain in 2022 — at 1930 E. Platte Ave., 410 S. 26th St., and 3806 Maizeland Road — but only the Maizeland location was built until this summer. The 26th Street location is franchised under Sussex Group Brew 1, a different company from the Maizeland location and the developers who originally submitted plans, which are listed in 2022 plan documents as the Geyer Morris Co. The site was sold to 3J7B Real Estate, a limited liability company with a business address in Columbus, Ohio, for $2.3 million in late 2022, according to El Paso County property records.

There are no plans to build a 7 Brew at the Platte Avenue location, Esposito said. However, Sussex Group owns property for future 7 Brew locations from Castle Rock to Pueblo, with the next store slated to open in Castle Rock, after which Colorado Springs will most likely receive a third location later this year or in 2027. Esposito said his company hopes to open twice as many stores next year as in 2026 in the southern Front Range, with the bulk of new locations coming online in the next four to six years.

Each location employs between 50 and 70 people, Esposito said, and a Colorado Springs listing this summer promised minimum pay of $17 per hour before tips. Esposito said Sussex Group was attracted to the area because of its continued population growth, youthful population, and established presence in Colorado Springs.

While residents around 26th Street raised concerns about additional traffic and drive-thru lines spilling onto the street, a 2023 traffic study concluded the stand would generate no greater traffic impacts than the site's previous use as a restaurant, taking into account future traffic predictions up to 2043.

Since its founding in 2017, 7 Brew has undergone significant growth, expanding from 26 locations in 2022 to more than 700 locations across 38 states, according to the company website. With a long list of flavors, syrups, and toppings, 7 Brew touts more than 20,000 drink combinations across seven categories: coffees, energy drinks, fizz sodas, teas, lemonades, smoothies, and shakes.

Whether the anticipated third Colorado Springs location materializes later this year or slips into 2027 remains to be seen as Sussex Group advances its Castle Rock opening.