A cold, bright blue sky contrasted with the construction yellow of the cranes working to erect the new 7 Brew Drive Thru Coffee shop off Scottsville Road. It was in this rocky construction zone that Tony Rose, founder of Stuff the Bus, received a $2,000 donation.

“[7 Brew] reached out to us and said ‘hey, can we help you guys with your mission statement to create a level playing field for all kids on the first day of school,’” Rose said. “We’re tickled pink. We’re humbled, we’re honored and now to watch it all come together […] is pretty wild.”

Stuff the Bus was founded in 2005 with the mission “to provide a level playing field for all children in Southern Kentucky” by providing teachers and children with essential school materials, grants and scholarships.

With “cold hands but a warm heart,” Rose said it was amazing and humbling that his foundation went from asking for $5 donations of pencils and paper to $2,000 checks from local businesses. 

“Each and every month we allocate thousands of dollars to local classrooms here in Southern Kentucky,” Rose said. “This money will go directly to classroom grants for teachers, also to our scholarship funds.”

The check was signed by 7 Brew coffee, who also announced the opening of its Bowling Green site. Braxton Jones, regional manager of 7 Brew, said he is happy to be able to give to the community and that they could “invest in the youth.”

7 Brew started in 2017 as a small family shop in Arkansas, Jones said. Today, 7 Brew has upwards of 50 stores across the United States.

Jones said the company expands fast, expecting 7 Brew to open roughly 50 more by summertime. Currently, there are 30 to 40 locations in Kentucky alone.

Even though Bowling Green has several Starbucks and Spencer’s locations, Jones said the 7 Brew experience and the joy of the employees will set them apart and earn loyal customers.

“Definitely the culture [sets us apart],” Jones said. “We invest in our people. We want to bring that kindness everywhere.”

The building, located between Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Big Lots, was assembled in Springfield, Missouri, in their warehouse and transported here to be set on the foundation, Jones said.

7 Brew specializes in a drive-thru only coffee shop that includes multiple coffee machines that will ensure a wait time between 3 to 5 minutes, Jones said, and much like Chick-fil-A they will have “texters” equipped with iPads that will take orders and converse while the customers wait.

“Our goal [is] we want to change the way our customers perceive a drive thru wait time our drive thru experience,” Jones said. “We also want to change it around for our team as well and create an experience they want to come into everyday, and something they love.”

Once they get the store set up, they will begin the hiring and training process. Jones said the store starts hiring at 16 and will employ 40-50 people in the Bowling Green area. Jones said their ideal employee is happy, talkative and attentive.

“We’re not really hiring for someone who wants to fill a spot, we’re looking for someone who loves to be there,” Jones said. “You can teach anybody to make coffee but you can’t teach them how to want to talk to people.”

Jones said their ideal opening date is sometime in April where they will have a “swag day” offering free tee shirts with a purchase of a large drink.

Administration reporter Michael Crimmins can be reached at [email protected].