Drive-Thru Coffe Huts??

**kdub1777** · 05-27-2008 03:43 PM

I am thinking about starting a drive-thru coffe bar. I have been seeing these pop up all over in the bigger cities. I live in a relatively small city but I think it might do very well. There is a highway where truckers and drivers stop at the local convenience store everyday for coffee. I think I can get most of this business.

Is there anyone here that has had experience starting and running a drive-thru coffee bar?

How much money would it take to start up one of these? I am looking at the hut, rental for space, and equipment. Any good ideas to get a local company to allow you to place the structure on their property?

Would this be a good return on investment?

Anything I should look out for when starting one of these? Looking for any info and ideas right now.

Thanks in advance

**JLeezer** · 05-27-2008 05:09 PM

I'm not going to be of much help with regards to your specific situation, but I do know that placing the structure on an existing piece of land will most likely require some significant work with the local zoning/building board. They can be a real pain to deal with sometimes, I think mainly because they are locals that have a teenie bit of power that goes straight to their heads. Of course, you could be lucky and get to deal with one of the nice ones out there.

I'd love to know how it goes if you proceed with the idea. I had thought of doing this in a specific location by my parents house (not seriously, though) and within about 2 years, someone had renovated the exact property I had thought would work and was doing a drive-thru coffee shop. They are still in business about 2 years later.

**Gaulkin** · 05-27-2008 05:36 PM

Starbucks has one in my area but they did it because it was an abandoned gas station.

**Tom Milan** · 05-27-2008 06:41 PM

its a pretty interesting idea actually, theres none in Australia, or at least from what i know.

are there decent ROI in your areas?

**Yiie** · 05-27-2008 07:56 PM

I'm not sure if a coffee only drive thru would work. If your target market are truckies, I don't think they would care much for the quality of coffee and main concern would be food. Thus, wouldn't they just drive thru a fast food restaurant as it's cheap and convenient?

Also, most truckies I see near highways would see restuarants/convenient stores as a place to stop and rest.

If you're targetting the coffee connoisseurs, I don't think they would go to a drive thru and prefer to sit, sip and enjoy the coffee.

**HarveyJ** · 05-27-2008 08:59 PM

I'd say if you can find an abandoned fuel station on a major arterial route for your city, then you're onto something in terms of location.
Failing that, find a station that's almost always go people crowding it out in the mornings but also has a large amount of empty space that's used as a sort of waiting area while people wait to get to the bowser... Ask if you can rent a small section of land from them.
Then just run it as a coffee cart so people can get coffee while they wait to fuel up.

Originally Posted by Tom Milan

its a pretty interesting idea actually, theres none in Australia, or at least from what i know.

are there decent ROI in your areas?

Are you kidding, I know of two along Springvale Road in Melbourne, and I've seen one in Hurstville somewhere on my way home... Maybe Hurstville South...

**kdub1777** · 05-27-2008 11:42 PM

Does anyone know what the startup cost would be for a drive-thru coffee hut like this? Excluding the land rental?

I would imagine you could get some good used equipment online to use and build your building relatively cheap.

**crackah** · 05-28-2008 12:32 AM

Originally Posted by HarveyJ

Are you kidding, I know of two along Springvale Road in Melbourne, and I've seen one in Hurstville somewhere on my way home... Maybe Hurstville South...

Yeah there are heaps, one in Burwood hwy too.

**Tom Milan** · 05-28-2008 05:20 AM

sorry boys should have done my research.
Have you been to them though?
do they look like they get a lot of business?

**crackah** · 05-28-2008 06:38 AM

No the look empty when I drive past, but I guess its not peak hour

**Squandered Halfpints** · 05-28-2008 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by Tom Milan

sorry boys should have done my research.
Have you been to them though?
do they look like they get a lot of business?

I tried driving into a drive-through coffe shop today, and it was abandoned.

**dougmcisaac** · 05-29-2008 09:04 AM

There are two companies in my town, Billings MT that combined have thousands of drive through coffee kiosks throughout the US. They are a money maker and they work very well in small towns as well as large towns. You won't get rich with one, but you can do very well with 3-4.

Here are the two companies:

City Brew Coffee
Mountain Mudd Espresso and Coffee Kiosks

Doug

**mike95910** · 05-29-2008 10:12 AM

star-bucks has a drive-through and so do many other places. Going to be a tough market. What are you going to do or have that nobody else has? or did you say you were going to buy into a franchise? good luck which ever way you go

**kdub1777** · 05-29-2008 11:10 AM

In my small town the only other competition is the gas stations. They sell the average cup of coffee, nothing special. I think I would have the market cornered. I need to find out the costs of starting up one of these kiosks. Thanks for all the info so far.

I have been researching, but have had a hard time finding a cost breakdown of the start up costs. I need to know what I will need and how much it would cost.