Drive-thru coffee is about to get even more crowded in Jacksonville, as city planners review proposals for two new 7 Brew drive-thru kiosks, one in Lakewood and another in Mandarin, each priced at around $1 million. If the projects move forward, the compact, neon-accented stands would occupy small, high-visibility parcels and add to a growing wave of drive-thru coffee concepts in the region. Neighbors can expect demolition and early site work ahead of any kiosk installation.
City staff have active permit reviews for 3746 University Blvd. W. in Lakewood and 11647 San Jose Blvd. in Mandarin, both described as roughly half-acre sites. The Lakewood property is a former car wash that fronts a McDonald’s and an LA Fitness, while the Mandarin location is vacant land at the northeast corner of San Jose Boulevard and Loretto Road, just south of I-295. Duval County records list Van Ness Street LLC and First Coast Energy LLP as the respective owners, and Colliers International Florida is marketing the Lakewood ground lease, according to the Jacksonville Daily Record.
What 7 Brew Is Building
7 Brew runs a drive-thru-only kiosk model that focuses on speed and heavy drink customization across coffee, energy drinks, lemonades, smoothies and shakes. The company now touts more than 700 stands in 38 states. The brand dates back to 2017 and operates under parent Brew Culture LLC, with franchising ramping up in 2021 as the chain began scaling quickly, according to 7 Brew.
Expansion Backed By Outside Capital
The rapid U.S. rollout has been fueled by outside money. Blackstone Growth announced a growth-equity investment in 7 Brew in February 2024, and industry coverage linked that move to the chain’s acceleration. The investment has helped franchise groups and developers move quickly on small pad sites in several states, with reporting tying the Blackstone deal to a broader national push and unit growth in markets that include Florida, as reported by Nation's Restaurant News.
What Comes Next Locally
Both Jacksonville projects remain in the city review pipeline. Approvals, utility service letters and any required tweaks to site plans are next on the list before permits can be issued. Public documents show projected construction costs near $1 million for each kiosk and include water-management and service-availability filings that must be cleared before work begins, according to the Jacksonville Daily Record. Until then, residents will have to watch municipal filings for traffic plans, construction staging and final approvals.
