Scooter’s Coffee

Scooter’s Coffee is a drive-thru specialty coffee chain that began in 1998, when Don and Linda Eckles opened the first location in Bellevue, Nebraska. The company started out as Scooter’s Java Express, with a focus on serving quality coffee quickly and with a personal touch. Over the years, Scooter’s Coffee has grown from a single Nebraska shop to a national brand. As of November 2025, the company operates approximately 900 locations across the United States.

The brand is known for its signature Caramelicious drinks, a full menu of espresso beverages, smoothies, and pastries, all designed for speed and convenience. Scooter’s Coffee has steadily expanded its reach over the past five years, with a particular emphasis on suburban and mid-sized markets throughout the Midwest, South, and Sunbelt. Its growth has been driven largely by franchising, which has enabled the company to enter new states and maintain a consistent pace of openings.

Scooter’s Coffee has prioritized drive-thru only formats, catering to customers seeking convenience and efficiency. The company’s approach favors high-visibility pad sites and endcap locations, which helps generate steady customer traffic. Recent years have seen robust franchise development, with new agreements signed in multiple states during 2025, and a focus on priority markets such as Texas, Florida, Georgia, Arizona, Colorado, and Illinois.

The brand’s operational consistency, streamlined store model, and ongoing menu innovation have established Scooter’s Coffee as a reliable presence in the quick-service coffee segment. Its continued expansion and strong franchise network make it a noteworthy tenant for landlords, brokers, and developers looking for stable, high-traffic concepts.