Scooter’s is serving coffee with a smile in Concordia
You might be surprised to know that coffee is the second most-traded commodity in the world, behind only crude oil. More coffee is bought and sold than wheat, natural gas, or gold.
Don and Linda Eckles found a niche serving coffee, and turned it into a drive-thru business juggernaut named “Scooter's Coffee.”
They opened their first location in 1998 in Bellevue, Nebraska. “We named it “Scooter’s” after reviewing a list of options including 'Scooter'”, said Linda Eckles. “The name fit well with our mission to keep customers happy by helping them “scoot in and scoot out” quickly.”
The Eckles say their keys to success are: find a great location and stay committed to high-quality drinks, speed of service, and a BIG smile.
Those keys to success have now unlocked more than 2,500 locations in 24 states, and Concordia is home to one of their newest stores.
“I'm so excited to be open in this town,” said district manager Madesyn Bryant. Based out of Kansas City, Bryant oversees six stores in her area. “Concordia is store number 60 in the franchise I work for.”
The Concordia Scooter's employs 32 people to keep up with the demand for their coffee. “Friday and Saturday morning are definitely are busiest times of the week,” Bryant said. “I would say that the fall is probably our busiest season.”
There is no indoor seating – Scooter's is a drive-thru store only – but they also serve more than just coffee. A lot more. Their hot drinks include espresso, cappuccinos, hot chocolate, and lattes with enticing names like Candy Bar, Honey Vanilla, and Carmelicious. Their iced drinks come in assorted flavors, including Strawberry Acai Quencher, Peach Mango Quencher, and Kiwi-Lime Prickly Pear.
Their menu includes blenders, smoothies, teas, and on the side, you can substitute oat milk or coconut milk. There are also sugar-free drinks as well, hot or cold.
“Carmelicious is definitely our best seller,” Bryant said. “It's our signature drink, and its patented. Scooter's owns the rights to its carmelicious sauce. Other stores use syrup; Scooter's makes there's as a sauce.”
Scooter's also has a food menu. There are Maple Waffle Sandwiches, Spicy Sausage Burritos, a Turkey Sausage Burrito, and an Egg & Cheddar Sandwich, to name a few.
“The maple waffle is our bestseller,” Bryant said.
In 1998, co-founder Linda Eckles bought smiley face stickers and placed them on every drink she sold. It was her way to say, “Have an amazing day!” Every Scooter's store now has a smiley face on the lid of every beverage it serves.
“We have different smiley faces for the seasons,” Bryant said. “We want people to start their day with a smile, or see a smile during their busy day.”
Bryant estimates that on the Concordia store's opening day, they served over 2,000 drinks. “We're just busy all day. Everyone here has been so nice and welcoming. Honestly, we couldn't have picked a better town for Scooter's.”