Coffee lovers on the north side of town have something to celebrate.
7 Brew, the Arkansas-born drive-thru coffee chain with a growing presence on the Emerald Coast, officially dropped its second Fort Walton Beach stand on March 4 at 799 Beal Parkway. Unlike the first Fort Walton Beach location, which was a retrofit of an existing building, this stand was built in Arkansas and shipped in three pieces, following the company’s standard modular approach.
“Our first Fort Walton Beach store is always packed,” said Emma Dewitt, director of field marketing for 7 Crew Enterprises. “It felt like the right time to continue growing in that market and make 7 Brew a little more accessible for our customers.”
While the existing location caters largely to beachgoers and tourists heading south, the new stand sits on the northbound lanes of Beal Parkway, putting it in prime position for morning commuters heading toward Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field and workplaces in Crestview. The stand is expected to open by late April to early May, according to Dewitt.
Before the doors officially open, area residents can expect to see the crew training on-site and handing out free drinks, a 7 Brew tradition that tends to draw a crowd.
The new location will add approximately 50 jobs to the Fort Walton Beach area. For those skeptical that a single drive-thru stand could employ that many people, Dewitt explained that the staffing model is built around flexibility.
- “Everyone except our manager is part-time,” she said. “We’re really flexible — whether you’re a high school student, in college, or a parent looking for part-time work. A lot of our employees work 10 to 20 hours a week.”
During peak hours, typically 7 to 9 a.m., 7 Brew staffs 12 to 15 people at a time, with six to eight of them working outside as runners to keep the drive-thru lines moving.
The Fort Walton Beach stand is part of a broader expansion push throughout the Florida Panhandle. In February alone, 7 Brew started construction on four new stands in the region, all expected to open by the end of the year. The company currently operates locations in Crestview, Niceville, Navarre, Gulf Breeze, Milton, Pace and three in Pensacola.
Two former secret menu favorites recently earned permanent spots on the lineup: the Cookie Butter Breve, featuring toasted marshmallow, hazelnut and white chocolate, and the Banana Bread Mocha, a banana-hazelnut-chocolate coffee with a chocolate milk base.
Those interested in joining the Brew Crew can apply online.
