The coffee shop strategy of creating a third place — a spot outside home and work — for people to gather, might be a waning trend. Black Rock Coffee Bar is among the many coffee chains that are opening drive-thru-only locations.
Black Rock’s newest opening, its second in Tucson and 24th overall in Arizona, is just 800 square feet. It offers the chain’s coffees, teas, smoothies and energy drinks.
"The extremely positive reception we had with our first store in Tucson on E. Broadway confirmed our belief that Black Rock Coffee Bar would be a terrific fit for this market," says Josh Pike, CEO of Black Rock Coffee Bar. "We are grateful for the opportunity now to expand in Tucson with a drive-thru-only location, which will allow us to serve more customers with our signature drinks and fast, friendly service."
Founded in 2008 in Portland, Oregon, an area of the Pacific Northwest known for its coffee excellence, Black Rock Coffee Bar has expanded through the west and into the sunbelt, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Texas and Washington. The boutique coffee chain was recently named the Fastest Growing Private Company in Oregon and SW Washington in 2021 by the Portland Business Journal.