CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The popular West Coast coffee brand Dutch Bros Coffee is coming to Clarksville, taking over two KFC locations that recently closed.
Clarksville Now reached out to the Oregon-based company, who confirmed their plan to open in Clarksville. Aaron Harris, VP of Development for Dutch Bros, noted Clarksville’s explosive population growth and his own experience in the area as reasons for moving here.
“I love the town of Clarksville. I’ve worked for several brands where we’ve done Clarksville in the past,” Harris said. “Having done the drive along I-24 many times, I know it’s a place where the community will respond in a big way.”
Harris said the company has received around 170 requests from Clarksville locals to expand here. “That’s a pretty big number,” he said.
Dutch Bros already has three locations in Tennessee: Smyrna, Hermitage and Gallatin. The company has no other locations east of Kansas City, but Harris said the company is slowly marching east.
“We will be in Clarksville, we will be in Nashville, and we will be in Knoxville before the end of next year,” Harris said. “Anything in Tennessee is that bridge from the Midwest to the Southeast.”
From the Colonel to coffee
Dutch Bros purchased two former KFC locations, one on Madison Street and another on North Second Street near Riverside Drive. The two restaurants closed recently – and suddenly – leading to surprise and questions from locals.
KFC spokesperson Kasey Ryan said the decision to close was made by a local franchisee, and it would not affect the other Clarksville locations.
“The KFC franchisee, who owns the restaurants located at 1879 Madison and 781 North Second … made a business decision to close the restaurants. While this is always a difficult decision, we appreciate the patronage of our loyal guests and hope they will visit other KFCs in the area,” Ryan said.
Dutch Bros doesn’t plan to use the current buildings, choosing instead to replace them with new structures. Harris said the company plans on opening in June 2022.