SAN JOSE — Dutch Bros Coffee is eyeing another empty retail site in San Jose that the trendy chain may convert into a drive-through cafe.
The coffee chain has filed a proposal “to construct a new Dutch Bros drive-through” at 5506 Monterey Road in South San Jose, documents filed with city planners state.
“This is an excellent location for Dutch Bros,” said David Taxin, a partner with Meacham Oppenheimer, a San Jose-based commercial real estate firm. “This is going to be a tremendous opportunity for them.”
The Monterey Road proposal represents a fresh attempt by Dutch Bros to open a new coffee outlet in San Jose, where the company appears to be in expansion mode.
“I can see Dutch Bros coming to many, many spots in Santa Clara County,” Taxin said. “They will open a dozen stores in the South Bay if they can find the locations they want.”
The deal is also a reminder that a growing number of empty retail spaces once operated by merchants that are defunct or downsizing are being picked up by a new generation of retailers and other types of companies.
The 5506 Monterey location was previously a Hollywood Video rental and sales store. Hollywood Video’s owner, Movie Gallery, filed for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2010 to liquidate and shutter all of its assets, including all of the Hollywood Video stores.
In addition to the Monterey Road site, Dutch Bros’ other San Jose plans include a former Wendy’s restaurant location at 2624 South Bascom Ave. in southwest San Jose and a one-time Burger King spot at 2170 Monterey Road.
Besides the three San Jose sites that Dutch Bros Coffee is contemplating, the beverage chain also has opened a location at 301 East Tenth St. in Gilroy, a September 2025 launch that marked the company’s first coffee shop in Santa Clara County.
“Drive-through sites are not easy, but Dutch Bros is motivated to do deals in the South Bay,” Taxin said.