A drive-thru coffee chain known for its neon-bright energy drinks and chatty baristas is angling for a spot in Hoover, where plans call for a 988-square-foot shop tucked between Hobby Lobby and Jersey Mike's Subs at The Plaza at Riverchase. The Hoover Planning and Zoning Commission already gave the proposal its blessing with a unanimous 8-0 vote, though the project still needed sign-off from the Hoover City Council before anything could move forward.
The proposed Dutch Bros. location at 1855 Montgomery Highway would include two drive-through lanes and walk-up service, but no indoor seating, according to HooverSun.com. The design is built for volume: the drive-through queue is meant to hold 22 vehicles, with room for another 20 on the lot itself. The coffee shop's footprint would eat up about 142 parking spaces at the shopping center, though HooverSun.com reports the plaza would still have at least 70 more spaces than current regulations require.
Not everyone in the neighborhood is thrilled. A Baba Java Roaster & Café owner and its vice president of operations showed up to oppose the application, raising concerns about the location, traffic congestion and the prospect of new competition right down the road, the outlet's report notes. They asked the zoning board to deny it outright — a request the panel did not grant.
What WBRC Reported Versus What's Confirmed
A separate report from WBRC states plainly that Dutch Bros. is coming to Hoover, with the chain set to open along U.S. 31 near Dale's and Dollar Tree, and says the City of Hoover confirmed the move. That account did not include additional details or an opening timeline. Other available records describe the project only as a proposal that had cleared the zoning commission and was slated for City Council consideration, without confirming a final vote or any construction or opening date.
A Fast-Growing Chain Making Its Alabama Push
Dutch Bros. has been expanding aggressively nationwide. The company now operates roughly 1,136 locations across 25 states, per Modern Retail, and posted $1.64 billion in revenue in 2025, a 27.9% jump from the year before. The same report notes Dutch Bros. plans to open about 181 new stores in 2026 alone, part of a growth streak that began when the company was founded in Oregon in 1992.
The Birmingham area has already gotten its first taste of the chain. Dutch Bros. opened its debut location in the region in Alabaster on May 6, 2026, at 544 First St. N. along U.S. 31, according to AL.com. The chain also has locations in Huntsville, Decatur, Owens Cross Roads, Auburn, Phenix City, Prattville and Florence. Most Dutch Bros. outposts, including the Alabaster stand, are drive-thru setups serving coffee, cold drinks and a handful of baked goods rather than full sit-down cafés — a format that lines up with what's being proposed for the Hoover site.
