KINGMAN – A new drive-thru coffee shop is planned along Stockton Hill Road in Kingman, across the very busy thoroughfare from Kingman Regional Medical Center. The 7 Brew coffee outlet would be located just south of where motorists enter the shopping center, and just north of the Taco Bell store.
The Board of Adjustment voted 3-1 to approve the staff recommendation to grant a zoning variance, allowing construction and operation of a 532 sq. ft. drive-thru only store.
“That is our worst part of Stockton Hill Road,” said member Kathy Helton, at the June 9 Board meeting. “The community gets so angry with us every time something else is put there because it is so congested in that area. But it seems like a coffee shop and tacos are two different things.”
Development Services Director Jason Moquin addressed Helton’s point in backup material for the meeting that noted the drive-thru businesses can co-exist because traffic concerns are mitigated by varying customer visitation patterns.
“Primarily, the 7 Brew drive-thru is at its busiest between 6 and 9 a.m., whereas Taco Bell is typically busy during the lunch and dinner hours,” Moquin’s communication stated. “This will aid in keeping stacking on both drive-thrus from impacting surrounding traffic and vehicular movements within the site.”
Variance applicant Tim Varley said attendants processing orders outside the store in the vehicle line, a pair of drive-thru lanes and other factors should push customers through, avoiding backups and traffic snarls. He said there will be no delays associated with food preparation as the outlet will only serve drinks.
“It’s pretty quick and efficient. I think the average cue or wait time in the 7 Brew platform right now is just under two minutes per customer, so it’s pretty quick,” Varley said.
“That commercial center was anticipated to have additional development. This is a pad area that just never got developed adjacent to Stockton Hill,” Moquin told Board members. “Essentially, that’s one of the reasons that we’re finding the justification to move forward for these special circumstances. It was always intended to have development there.”
Varley said there are about 500 7 Brew stores across the country, and that the Kingman store would provide about 30 jobs. He said 7 Brew would open at 6 a.m. and close at 11 p.m.
