Coffee lovers in Middletown could soon have a new grab-and-go option at one of the city’s busier intersections, as Dutch Bros Coffee looks to slip a compact, drive-thru-only shop onto the southeast corner of Breiel Boulevard and Batsey Drive.
The company has applied to carve out a roughly 986-square-foot building from about 0.59 acres of the Middletown Shopping Center’s parking lot. Plans call for two drive-thru lanes, no indoor seating at all, and a walk-up window on the west side of the building. Nearby tenants include Mr. Hibachi Japanese Grill, Burger King, and Little Caesars, which could see their parking layout and traffic flow reshuffled if the project moves ahead. The proposal is slated for a planning commission review in May.
What the plans show
According to WCPO, the filing submitted to city planners details a 986-square-foot building with two drive-thru lanes and a walk-up service window on the west side. The site plan would redevelop about 0.59 acres of existing parking at the Middletown Shopping Center and specifically notes nearby businesses that could be affected by shifts in traffic circulation. WCPO reports that the submission is scheduled to go before the city’s planning commission in May.
Part of a regional push
The Middletown plans are one more piece of Dutch Bros’ broader push into the Miami Valley. Dayton Daily News notes the chain opened its first Ohio shop in Springfield Township in 2025 and now lists Greater Cincinnati locations in Milford and Sharonville. The paper also reports additional proposals near the University of Dayton, Fairborn, and Riverside, and says the company counted about 1,081 locations across 24 states as of late 2025.
Traffic and neighbors
Built for speed and car traffic rather than sit-down customers, Dutch Bros outlets emphasize mobile ordering and window pickup, according to the company’s local pages. Dutch Bros describes the format as a compact footprint paired with a sprawling drink lineup that includes coffees, Rebels energy drinks, teas, and lemonades.
That car-first model has already put traffic on the radar in other communities. Planners in nearby jurisdictions have attached traffic-management conditions such as extra signage, multiple drink runners, and designated traffic coordinators to similar Dutch Bros proposals to keep lines from spilling onto public streets. A recent Boone County approval documented those kinds of mitigation measures, as covered by LINK nky.
Next steps
The Middletown proposal is set for a planning commission review in May, according to WCPO. Residents who want a closer look can review meeting packets or watch the proceedings via the city’s Planning Commission page, where agendas and staff reports are posted.
If the commission signs off, the developer would still need to meet any traffic or site conditions the city imposes and secure building permits before ground can be broken. Until then, the question at Breiel and Batsey is whether a new caffeine stop will fit the corner without clogging it.
