Popular Midwest coffee chain is expanding to South Daytona. Here's what you need to know.

SOUTH DAYTONA — A couple who moved to Ponce Inlet two years ago from Nebraska plan to open the first Volusia County location here for a popular coffee chain from the Midwest that began in their home state.

Scooter's Coffee will be a drive-through-only location on the northwest corner of Ridgewood Avenue and Big Tree Road in South Daytona .

"I'm obviously biased, but I think it's better than Starbucks," said native Nebraskan Joseph Young, who along with his wife Michaela will be the local franchisees for Scooter's Coffee.

Scooter's is not the only coffee shop chain expanding to Volusia County. Site work is currently underway on two locations in Daytona Beach for Dutch Bros Coffee , a chain based in Oregon.

What is Scooter's Coffee?

The chain was founded in 1998 in Bellevue, Nebraska, a suburb of Omaha, by Don and Linda Eckles. The couple got the idea after experiencing a drive-through coffee hut while visiting California. According to the company's website, the couple wondered what might happen if they combined coffeehouse quality with drive-through convenience.

The formula for success they came up with was: "provide customers with high-quality drinks, speedy service, and a big smile."

Today, the chain has more than 750 locations across the country including 16 in Florida. The closest one to Daytona Beach is currently 45 miles away in Orlando.

"We are aimed at getting amazing drinks from amazing people amazingly fast to you in this community," said Michaela Young.

Joseph Young said the goal is to serve customers within 90 seconds of placing their order.

What's on the menu?

Scooter's Coffee serves hot and iced coffee drinks, as well as smoothies, teas, and "blenders" which are essentially dessert drinks. It also offers food (such as breakfast burritos, tomato and feta omelet bites, cinnamon rolls, and maple waffle sandwiches) and snack items (such as birthday cake bites, S'mores cookies, and pretzel snackers).

The coffee drinks have names such as "Caramelicious," "Candy Bar Latte" and "Scooter Shooter." For those that prefer dairy-free drinks, the chain also serves lattes that use either almond, oat or coconut milk.

How many jobs will the South Daytona location create?

Joseph Young said he and his wife expect to initially employ 25 to 30 workers at their South Daytona location.

When will it open?

If all goes according to plan, the Youngs hope to open their South Daytona location at 1980 S. Ridgewood Ave. by Jan. 1, 2025.

What's currently there?

The building that currently occupies the property is a bait-and-tackle shop called Your Rod & Reel, whose last day there will be July 28.

Your Rod & Reel owner Steven Hughes said he will consolidate his operations in New Smyrna Beach where he recently opened Kate's Bait & Tackle at 843 N. Dixie Freeway. That shop is named after his daughter.

Hughes said he didn't want to move as his South Daytona bait shop was in a prime location near the beach access at the east end of Big Tree Road. "Landlord sold the building, the property, so we had to move," he said, referring to Jacksonville-based First Coast Energy LLP .

What will be built in its place?

Joseph Young said the pending $450,000 purchase of the roughly half-acre property is expected to close in early September. He and his wife plan to tear down the existing building to make way for a planned 664-square-foot Scooter's Coffee kiosk. It will have a single drive-through lane.

The new building will likely cost between $400,000 and $600,000 to construct, said Joseph Young.

"The city of South Daytona has been fantastic to work with," he added. "They've been very responsive and very helpful. And I know their commitment is more than just to us. It's to the residents of South Daytona and entire Ridgewood corridor."

Coffee shop aligns with city's objectives for Ridgewood

Josh McEnany , the economic development director for South Daytona, said the city is thrilled to partner with the Youngs in bringing Scooter's Coffee to town.

"It all aligns with the objectives of the city to improve the quality of life for our residents and our visitors," said McEnany. "We're really excited to get this project underway as well as work with other small and national brands along our (Ridgewood Avenue) corridor and encourage the migration into our community."

McEnany added that the city has offered to provide the Youngs with a "targeted business grant" as well as small grants to offset the cost of demolishing the old building and for improving the new building's facade.

According to the city's website, grants offered in its targeted business program are for up to $50,000 for new construction, up to $25,000 for substantial renovations, and up to $15,000 for site improvements, fees and setback waivers.

Joseph Young said he and his wife will likely only apply for a demolition grant for roughly $7,000 to $10,000. "The grant is greatly appreciated, but it's only a tiny fraction of what we will be investing. Any little bit helps, especially with escalating real estate and construction costs."

The "targeted businesses" the city is looking to attract include financial, medical or professional offices, food-related businesses such as sit-down restaurants, coffee shops and grocery stores, high-tech manufacturing, eco-tourism, marine or sports-related businesses, and corporate headquarters.

Existing building was showing its age

The city in April 2022 fined First Coast Energy for failure to properly maintain its building and property at 1980 S. Ridgewood Ave., according to a search of public records.

The single-story 1,856-square-foot building was constructed in 1969 and was originally a gas station convenience store, according to property records.

Couple plans to open more Scooter's locations

Joseph Young said he and his wife have the exclusive franchise rights to open Scooter's Coffee locations throughout east Volusia County.

"We're looking to open other locations," he said. "We'd like to start with at least three. We will be hands-on active owners."

What did they used to do?

Joseph Young said he and his wife moved to Ponce Inlet to be close to her parents. In Lincoln, Nebraska, he worked as a lobbyist while his wife worked in the nonprofit sector.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Popular Midwest coffee chain is expanding to South Daytona. Here's what you need to know.