Dutch Bros. Coffee LLC, a Grants Pass, Ore.-based drive-through coffee chain, says its franchisees for the Spokane market are planning to open about 10 stores here in the next few years, and will open the first of the shops this spring downtown.


Remodeling work is under way for that initial store, says Dave Morris, the companys franchise developer. It will be located at the northwest corner of Second Avenue and Washington Street, in a building that formerly housed a drive-through espresso shop, as well as a Zips fast-food restaurant. The shop is expected to open by early May, he says.


The Dutch Bros. Coffee outlet downtown will be owned and operated by Kevin and Carrie Parker, a Bend, Ore., couple that plan to move here soon, and Bill Smith, who already owns shops in the Bend area, Morris says. The franchisees will be developing other stores in the Spokane area, he says. They plan to open a second store here this summer, he says, but an exact location hasnt been determined.


Were coming as heavy as we can into the Spokane market, he says.


The new store will employ about 10 people, he says. Dutch Bros. has more than 700 total employees total.


Including the first Spokane shop, Dutch Bros. will have 80 outlets in Washington, Oregon, and California, 15 of which are company owned, Morris says. About 25 Dutch Bros. Coffee stores opened last year, and up to 30 new shops are planned in the Northwest and Tempe, Ariz., this year. The company had $30 million in gross sales in 2005, he says.


Before the first coffee shop opens here this spring, it will be a set for a new movie, called Home of the Brave, he says. For that project, Dutch Bros. is working with Spokane-based North by Northwest Productions Inc., which is helping to produce the portion of the movie that will be filmed in Spokane, Morris says.


Contact Emily Brandler at (509) 344-1265 or via e-mail at emilyb@spokanejournal.com.