Scooter’s Coffee, a drive-thru focused beverage chain, is one step closer to opening in Brooklyn Center.

The Omaha-based company has been eyeing a city-owned property for its newest location — a 0.36-acre lot on the corner of Brooklyn Boulevard and 63rd Avenue North. At a June 22 meeting, the Brooklyn Center Economic Development Authority approved a purchase agreement with a franchisee.

Scooter’s Coffee does not plan to offer indoor seating at its Brooklyn Center location, but rather a single drive-thru lane and a walk-up window with outdoor patio seating. The drive-thru is designed to accommodate eight cars, with limited parking available in a small lot.

The buyer, Promise Holdings LLC, purchased the property for $150,000, which is approximately $10.20 per square foot. It was most recently valued at $133,000 by the Hennepin County Assessor’s Office. The land is technically made up of two properties, which the EDA purchased in 2013 for $280,000.

After a presentation by city staff, Commissioner Dan Jerzak asked if there was a timeline for construction or a tentative opening date.

Planning Manager Ginny McIntosh said if the sale was approved there would still be multiple steps for the buyer and city staff to take before breaking ground, but there would be a potential for conduction to begin sometime in 2026.

Commissioner Kris Lawrence-Anderson noted the purchase price was significantly lower than what the EDA paid more than a decade ago.

“That’s actually pretty typical for EDA properties,” McIntosh said. “We often lose money, but that’s also in the hopes to get the highest and best use to get it back on the tax roll. I don’t know the last time we really went out and made tons of money off of an EDA property. We’re kind of looking at what is our ultimate goal as the EDA, and I would say generally, it is to get properties back on the tax roll to get them productive and useful.”

“I’ve lived in the city so long, I remember when the gas station was there,” Lawrence-Anderson replied. “I’m happy to see something going in there, I think it will be very beneficial. I’m sure the fire department is going to love it.”

After a public hearing yielded no comments from residents, the EDA ultimately voted in a 4-0 motion to approve a purchase and development agreement for the property at 6245 Brooklyn Blvd. Mayor and EDA President April Graves was not present for the meeting.

Prior discussions

In April, the EDA was asked to consider the Scooter’s Coffee proposal and give city staff guidance on how to move forward. Multiple commissioners expressed excitement about the and ecouraged staff to prepare a purchase and development agreement.

“I absolutely support this new utilization of this lot, which, let’s be frank, has minimal uses,” Jerzak said. “We have mowed it and maintained it for years and years and years.”

Jerzak also voiced concern about plowing snow in such a small lot, as well as the potential for the drive-thru line to reach into the roadway.

“All I’m saying is, at least be aware of it, because we used to get a lot of complaints in code enforcement with one of the others in town backing out onto the street, and I think we want to avoid that happening or mitigate it as much as possible,” Jerzak added.

Scooter’s offers smoothies, teas and Red Bull infusions in addition to its coffee and espresso-based drinks. Pastries, breakfast sandwiches and some additional food items are also available. The company currently has eight stores in the Twin Cities metro, which are generally open 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Graves noted she appreciated the variety of drink options and the proposed hours.

“I’m especially excited to hear that a coffee shop will stay open that late, because so many of them in Brooklyn Center close before then,” she said.