Business: 7 Brew Coffee
Address: 1203 Iroquois Ave., Naperville
Phone/website: 479-358-9274; www.7brew.com
Stand Manager: Sarah Conroy, 24, of Naperville; Regional Manager: Gabriel Smith, 23, of Naperville
Years in business: Opened Oct. 14
What does your business do? They sell drive-thru coffee and other beverages.
How’s it going? “Very well,” Smith said.
Why is this drive-thru often crowded? “We emphasize speed and customer service. Those are the claims to fame right there. The Naperville location, this is the first time we’ve seen social media play such a big factor,” Smith said.
“We went viral on TikTok with several different drinks. It amassed huge numbers. It was pretty surprising because we’ve never seen that much of a reach with one TikTok video.”
What was in the video? “A customer came through and made a video about the fact that they came to the new Naperville stand. It went viral. Everyone was like, ‘I want to go too.’ We have people who drive over an hour just because they heard there’s a 7 Brew in the area,” Conroy said.
What sets you apart? “You can go to the 7-Eleven down the street and get a cup of coffee. But I don’t think you can get the same experience at a 7-Eleven as you can at a 7 Brew,” Smith said. “There’s not as much customization. There isn’t the customer service aspect.
“We can customize everything. We have a very expansive menu. We have energy drinks, teas, sodas. … All our espresso is hand pulled every single time. … We offer sugar-free drinks.”
What was opening day like? “Our opening day did better than most stores’ grand openings. That’s when we got the sense this will be something big,” Smith said.
How does it work? “People pull into the drive-thru lanes. The texters come out with their iPads, they take the orders,” Conroy said. “You’re not talking to a screen, you’re not talking to a box where you order. You’re talking directly to a person. Then you pull around to where we hand out the drinks. There’s another person who is giving you your drink, having that conversation, that interaction with you. Then, you’re on your way.”
What do you do in a Chicago winter? “We switch (outdoor employees) every hour on the hour when it gets that cold,” Smith said. “Always let them come inside when there are no cars in line. Warm up.”
Are customer perks offered? “We have a really cool loyalty program. It doesn’t require you to download an app. … Every time you come through and give us your phone number, you get points for free drinks. Every 10 drinks (purchased), you get a free one. Every Tuesday is double-points,” Smith said.
What are your hours? “Five thirty in the morning until 10 p.m. during the week and until 11 on (Friday and Saturday),” Conroy said.
Any future plans? “We’ll open our second (Illinois) location in Round Lake Beach on Jan. 13. … We plan to have 15 open (in the Chicago area) by the fourth quarter of 2025. Very fast expansion,” Smith said. “They’re modular buildings. They build them in a warehouse in Arkansas. We put them on a trailer and ship them across the country. It’s really awesome.”
What do you like best? “I love the people. I love everything this company stands for. I come to work every day excited to be here, to meet new customers, and the people I get to work with,” Conroy said.
“When I first started six years ago, I really fell in love with the customer service aspect. … Don’t be a robot. Be yourself,” Smith said.
Any negatives? “I’ve never had a bad day at work,” Smith said.
What about competition? “I’ve opened 7 Brews all across the country. In Topeka, Kansas, we opened across the street from a Starbucks. Pretty bold move. Three days into opening, Starbucks employees applied for jobs because there were no cars in their lot,” Smith said.
What do customers say? “I heard about it. I’m excited. I drove 40 minutes from Chicago just for coffee,” Carolina Rivera, 35, said.
“It’s on my way to work. The coffee is good. I can get it sugar-free. Sometimes, your coffee has a million calories,” Alexia Swanson, 23, of Naperville said.
What about pricing? “Very competitive. Our medium iced blondie is $6.03 after tax,” Smith said.
What’s your advice for someone starting a business? “Set yourself apart from the competition. … Making something unique and genuine is what you can do. So much comes down to customer service,” Smith said.
“Don’t be afraid of challenges. … Keep pushing forward,” Conroy said.
Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun. If you know of a business you’d like to see profiled in Down to Business, contact him at metschmsfl@yahoo.com.
