Construction of a new national drive-through coffee shop in Galesburg is delayed because of red tape in the site demolition process.
Jeremy Music, the owner of 10 Scooter’s Coffee stores around the Midwest, says he’s ready to begin construction of a drive-thru at 1317 N. Henderson St, however he’s yet to receive permission to tear down two existing buildings on the site.
“We’re just really waiting on IDOT to give us our permit to demolish the two buildings,” Music said. “Once the permit is issued, the next day we’ll be there to begin demo. We’ve been waiting for awhile, so I’m thinking we’ll get the OK from IDOT any day now.”
Music, who opened a Scooter’s Coffee in Monmouth last year, will locate the first of two Galesburg drive-throughs at the southeast corner of North Henderson and Sanborn streets. He’s still searching for a location for a second Scooter’s in Galesburg.
Approaching 500 locations in the U.S., Scooter’s Coffee serves customers from a 660 square foot drive-through kiosk. Based in Omaha, Nebraska, Scooter’s specializes in artisan espresso drinks, fruit smoothies, baked-from-scratch pastries and features its signature drink, the Caramelicious. The company also recently added depth to its profile with a line of organic hot and iced teas, single-origin coffee and Cold Brew & Cream.
According to site plans obtained from the City of Galesburg, Scooter’s will face North Henderson Street. Customers will enter and exit the property from the same area on Henderson Street. The menu board/ordering station would be at the rear of the building, and customers would pay for and receive their order on the north side of the building next to Sanborn Street.
Plans say the building would be 664 square feet in size.
Once the existing buildings on site — a vacant home and former quick oil change shop — are demolished, Music said he expects construction to take about three and a half months.
Construction on a Scooter’s is ongoing in Kewanee. Music said his group operates Scooter’s in eastern Iowa and western Illinois.
“Our Scooter’s are going over very well, and that’s why we’re excited to get one open in Galesburg,” Music said. “It’s a great population for us, and it fit’s the demographics we’re looking for. We like the small to mid-size towns.”
Galesburg currently has eight coffee shops or drive-throughs. If you are counting, there are three Starbucks locations, along with locally-owned Innkeeper’s Fresh Roasted Coffee, two Orange Cup Java Station locations, The Beanhive and Dame Fine Coffee. Also, a group which owns more than 100 Dunkin’ stores nationally has recently submitted site plans to build a Dunkin’ restaurant at 951 N. Henderson St.
