Scooter’s Coffee opens in Knoxville, more locations coming soon

July 23, 2021 admin Coffee News 0

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Knoxville might be teeming with options for coffee lovers, but where do you head when you need a quick burst of caffeine on the go?

Many local roasters don’t have a drive-thru, and chains like Starbucks are often incredibly backed up. A branch of the drive-thru chain Scooter’s Coffee has landed in Farragut and several franchise owners are already planning to expand across Knoxville. 

Based in Omaha, Nebraska, Scooter’s has been serving coffee since 1998. The chain has slowly grown over the years to about 300 locations in 20 states. Outside of town, the nearest location is Chattanooga. 

While Scooter’s Coffee, at 10512 Kingston Pike, has plenty of options for coffee, franchisees Greg and Stacey Gering said Scooter’s is different. 

“Scooter’s Coffee has three priorities: amazing people, amazing drinks, amazingly fast. Our goal is to pick everyone’s day up in terms of mood and caffeine,” Greg Gering told Knox News. “Scooter’s is about getting your coffee quickly and going.”

After purchasing the Scooter’s franchise in 2019, the Gerings quickly began work on the current location. While the COVID-19 pandemic delayed things, they were thrilled to finally open their drive-thru earlier this month.

Scooter’s serves a mix of coffee shop favorites such as cold brew and espresso plus their own original roasts, all available hot, iced or “blended,” like a Frappuccino. A unique flavor will be available each day of the week, from cinnamon to German chocolate to snickerdoodle. 

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Coffee isn’t the only pick-me-up you can get at Scooter’s. The chain also serves smoothies. Similarly to a shot of espresso in hot drinks, customers can add a shot of energy or protein to smoothies as a pre- or post-workout treat. 

The chain also serves breakfast food, from maple waffle and everything bagel sandwiches to bacon burritos.

Scooter’s Coffee hopes to be the Chick-fil-A of coffee shops, emphasizing friendly, fast service.

“When you pull up to the drive-thru, the barista that greets you does not leave the window while you’re parked there,” Greg Gering said. “The window won’t close, they won’t turn their back on you and they’ll have nothing to do but interact and get to know you.”

Though it’s housed in a small building, Scooter’s will always have between five and 10 staffers. The high number of employees allows them to stay with customers until they receive their drink.

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Between the Gerings and two other franchisees, between 10 and 12 new Scooter’s locations are expected to open in Knoxville in the next few years. 

Scooter’s has entered a period of rapid expansion in the past few years, opening new locations in Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Texas and beyond.

News intern Jake Yoder can be reached at jake.yoder@knoxnews.com. Follow along with his work on Twitter @jakeywakeyy. Support our local news efforts by becoming a Knox News subscriber. 

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