Austinites are about to be brimming with options to get their caffeine kicks — and, perhaps, to invest in the coffee industry.
First, Tim Hortons spilled the beans about seeking to open approximately 45 franchise locations in the Austin metro. About two weeks later now, Utah-based Beans & Brews Coffeehouse announced plans to open 40 locations in the AustinSan Antonio corridor over the next six years. Austin will receive at least 15 locations, according to Kim Falk, company vice president of franchise development.
The 40-location agreement was executed by Brame Holdings, LLC, the same company that recently announced it would bring 40 Round Table Pizza restaurants and 40 co-branded Fatburger and Buffalo’s Express locations to Texas. Brame Holdings is already working to develop real estate properties in Texas, according to an announcement.
Beans & Brews is also seeking other franchisees in the Austin metro, Falk said in an email. An average Beans & Brews location is 1,700 square feet. The initial investment and franchise fee ranges between $400,000 and $650,000. Beans & Brews has 68 locations across four states and 50 locations under development. The first Austin-area location is expected to open in approximately 12 months, according to Falk. The company chose Texas for its business-friendly environment and the community, she added.
The Austin metro has become a hot spot for coffee franchise developments. Aside from Tim Hortons and Beans & Brews, Dutch Bros Coffee has been rapidly growing around the area. So far, the company has eight locations in the metro, according to a Google Maps search. Filings with the Texas Department of License and Regulation show several more Dutch Bros locations could open in the area, including at South Park Meadows, Loyola Lane in Northeast Austin and at the intersection of FM 620 and Little Oak Way in Round Rock. TDLR filings are preliminary and subject to change throughout the development process.
This was originally published on Austin Business Journal.