03-07-2025
City planners review proposed Arsenal Street drive-up coffee stand
Jul. 2—WATERTOWN — The Arkansas-based 7 Brew could be serving up espressos and other hot and cold beverages at its drive-up stand on Arsenal Street early this fall.
Construction of the 510-square-foot stand at 1068 Arsenal St. could start within eight to 10 weeks, depending on whether the city's Planning Commission moves forward with site plan approval next month.
The Watertown 7 Brew would be the eighth store in the state under an expansion by the company that holds the franchise agreement in New York, partner Larry Adler said following a presentation at the planning commission on Tuesday night.
"We're looking forward to the final site plan and looking forward for your project," Planning Commission Chair Michelle Capone said.
7 Brew would serve a variety of beverages, including coffee, tea, Italian sodas, smoothies, shakes, energy drinks and hot chocolate. No food is offered. There are no seating accommodations inside.
"We're a mixture of Starbuck's and Chick-fil-A," Adler said.
Customers can expect to get their beverage within three or four minutes of their order, Adler said. Employees would meet them in one of two serving lines, much like the system at Chick-fil-A, and then deliver the beverage at the vehicle without actually going up to a drive-up window.
Between four and six people would work during each shift.
The company would lease the property from 1068 Arsenal St. RE LLC, a Rochester-based car wash company that purchased the vacant parcel four years ago.
The Planning Commission tabled the project until August.
The company also plans to reduce the parcel from 160-foot frontage to 140 feet with a subdivision process, culminating in a .99-acre lot, Adler said. The project cannot get site plan approval until the city approves the subdivision.
The project includes a separate 400-square-foot cooler building and a canopy on the main prefabricated building that protects employees from inclement weather.
The company currently owns 7 Brews in Syracuse, New Hartford, Rome, near Albany and Johnstown, with another opening in Schenectady next month. Further expansion is planned in the state.
"We wanted to get into the Watertown market," Adler said.
Started in 2017, the Arkansas-based corporation operates about 420 locations.
Recently, a similar drive-up beverage business — Jumpin' Goat Drive Thru — opened in the former Brew Ha Ha at 468 Coffeen St.
