KINGSPORT — In the span of nearly three years, seven new 7 Brew locations have popped up across Northeast Tennessee.
And according to Matt Martinkovic, 7 Brew director of operations for the region, the company has no plans of stopping its rapid expansion. He said Kingsport’s 7 Brew on Stone Drive was the first to open within the Tri-Cities footprint in 2022, soon followed by the opening in ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ.
“We opened up in Kingsport, and there’s such a great community in Kingsport,†he said. “We had such a great following in that opening. Shortly after that, we opened up our one on North Roan [Street], and that was one of the largest openings at the time for 7 Brew as a whole.â€
An additional 7 Brew spot opened near ETSU in June 2023. Other locations in Elizabethton, Greeneville, as well as one more in Kingsport, opened sporadically over the following months. The latest to open is the 7 Brew on Volunteer Parkway in Bristol, which opened this month.
Quick growth
A Jonesborough resident, Martinkovic called Northeast Tennessee a great community to serve.
“I think [7 Brew] had 30 something stands when we first opened up the one in Kingsport and now we’re looking at, by the time we get done here at Bristol, we’re looking at about 700 plus stands throughout the whole country,†he said.
He said 7 Brew continues to have a strong presence in cities with colleges throughout the U.S., especially as it staffs 50 to 65 baristas at each stand.
“It is just a great, fun atmosphere, and it just drives the students towards us, just on our culture and our youthful workforce,†Martinkovic added.
One of the unique aspects of the business is the construction process. For each new 7 Brew stand, a pre-fabricated building is dropped into its spot, and with little turnaround time, is usually open for business.
Martinkovic said the pre-fabrication model contributes to the speedy growth of the company.
“Typically when we end up digging the hole and pouring the foundation, we will drop the stand,†Martinkovic said. “It’s typically dropped in three to four pieces, depending on which model stand [it is]. After that, we’re talking as soon as that stand drops, we’re opening up in just less than a month after that stand has dropped.â€
Looking ahead, Martinkovic said 7 Brew is still eyeing several new locations in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia — especially as the region continues to grow.
“I’m a Jonesborough person, I look forward to seeing one in Jonesborough, Tennessee, down the road,†he said. “Then coming right over the [state] border in Bristol, Virginia, and just wherever. Gray, Tennessee, is one that we’re looking at. We’re looking just to keep spreading out and bringing our smiles to hopefully every corner in East Tennessee.â€
