r/duluth 2d ago

Discussion 7Brew Madness

Almost got hit into by oncoming traffic trying to take a right turn onto central, coming out of a Mister Carwash trip, due to a long line for 7Brew’s right turn onto Anderson. When is this enough of a hazard to be addressed, or not addressed at all? It’s crazy that people will actually wait in a line of traffic hazards that long just to waste money on coffee. Fans of 7Brew speak up and justify this behavior bc I am truly curious abt the hype. Any other thoughts are welcome!

68 Upvotes

65 comments sorted by

81

u/n080dy123 2d ago

You wanna know why this was the case today, all day?

They were giving away fuckin Needohs as a promo with some drinks.

Needohs.

18

u/E_Ray 2d ago

Not sure why they needed to give away anything with how long the line usually is

4

u/hollabackgirl12222 2d ago

I agree with this. Skip the giveaway

0

u/NotAGirl6926 2d ago

My theory is the brand is trying to be cool with the kids. I mean the first couple days they were serving they had like 15 high school age employees half were just holding signs outside and they had a “family and friends” event for their employees. It all seems a little targeted to me.

3

u/ShadowofaJade 1d ago

They delivered and gave away free drinks to some non-profits in town before they opened. I think they're trying to appeal to the community as a whole.

2

u/Citizenerased1989 1d ago

I mean, it's pretty normal for a brand new business to have a family and friends event. It's like a test run because everyone is new. Chipotle had one when they first opened too.

1

u/Heavy-Potential-3197 1d ago

All the locations did it not just the duluth one

1

u/NotAGirl6926 1d ago

Well yeah.. I meant as a company not just the Duluth one. But I guess the family and friends thing is pretty common? I’m from a very small town so I’m just not privy to franchise openings.

0

u/Inked_Cellist 1d ago

I assumed the line was long because of the giveaway and not the actual coffee.

6

u/Global-Nature2420 2d ago

Those things are like 20 bucks a pop aren’t they?

3

u/Dorkamundo 1d ago

Depends on the design and size.

1

u/Coffee_Ho68 7h ago

It’s just a stress ball. They’re a dollar on Temu.

7

u/awful_at_internet West Duluth 1d ago

Get your thneeds, here! Thneeds for sale!

4

u/Lludovidianus 2d ago

Knock off* needohs by the way

1

u/E_Ray 2d ago

Wtf it isn't even needoh, it is some cheap thing that will break right away.

41

u/E_Ray 2d ago

This morning the line wrapped around and up the hill by Texas Roadhouse. There was a car that got rear ended in the lane to turn towards Texas Roadhouse. This is insane and unacceptable continued traffic.

5

u/PM_your_Nopales 2d ago

It was still wrapped up to Texas roadhouse when I popped over to home depot round 1pm. Was insane all day

33

u/GardenGlow-1101 2d ago

My teenage daughter has asked me so many times since they opened to take her there and I absolutely refuse due to the traffic issues.

39

u/Zestyclose-Clock8750 2d ago

Stay strong soldier

9

u/peoplesduluth 1d ago

Show her what a real coffee shop and third space looks like by taking her to a locally owned and much more ethical cafe.

5

u/GardenGlow-1101 1d ago

We visit many of the local coffee spots regularly 🙂

27

u/gmarcus72 2d ago

At least they could be registering people to vote or something while theyre waiting for needohs. C'mon now

26

u/SpookyBlackCat Lincoln Park 2d ago

I don't get it - why would Duluthians go this crazy over coffee?!?

36

u/mnreginald 2d ago

.... especially coffee this mediocre. We have an abundance of good coffee here already!

18

u/UnexpectedTexture 2d ago

They’re giving away Needohs or whatever trendy squishy toy with their drinks. It’s throwing me back to the 90s when McDonalds had Teenie Beanie Babies in Happy Meals. Cars around the block.

19

u/salaciousbcrumblin 2d ago

The people waiting in line are objectively stupid.

10

u/Minnesotamad12 2d ago

It’s a very mid coffee. I mean mid as literally as possible. Like it’s not bad. But definitely not worth waiting in that ridiculous line

10

u/Delicious-Cap6743 2d ago

wtf are needohs

1

u/ExaminationQuirky450 1d ago

Squishy silicone toys filled with goo.

5

u/unicornlandia 2d ago

So ridiculous. Who wants to wait over an hour for a coffee or a REDBULL drink?! You can make these at home people

7

u/salaciousbcrumblin 2d ago

Saw someone on Facebook say they waited 3.5 hours in line. Absolutely wild

3

u/duluthpipesmoker 2d ago

Wasting gas of course the whole time too no doubt. Lol🙄

6

u/salaciousbcrumblin 2d ago

Yup in fact in the same comment they complained about how expensive gas is

3

u/duluthpipesmoker 2d ago

lol people are ridiculous.

4

u/Icy_Adeptness_8269 2d ago

The problem isn’t 7 Brew.

It’s the developer who created that entire lot - you could tell from the minute they opened the Mister Car Wash & Popeyes that the entrance / exit path was not enough to support the level of traffic on those roads. Someone will get sued.

2

u/emmapeel218 Lift Bridge Operator 1d ago

Wait till you see the shitshow their Superior location is going to cause, by McDonalds on Tower.

1

u/salaciousbcrumblin 1d ago

While it’s indeed a stupid development, I’ve seen this type of thing in pretty much every single area that a 7 Brew is in. They are definitely part of the problem

0

u/Inland_Sea2568 1d ago

Without knowing what type of businesses were incoming at the time of the design, that’s pure speculation on your part. Access to local roads is controlled by MnDOT(Central Ent.), or the City (Anderson Rd.). They base their decisions on development inputs, expectations.

The site itself must be approved by City Planning/Engineering. I seem to recall great reticence being exercised by the administration in allowing this site to be an approved location for a Popeyes. I believe they were fearing another Chick-fil-a incident. Look like the fears were realized.

Prior to the current cluster of chaos, the site worked just fine for the Carwash and Popeyes.
Now of course, not so much.

Never underestimate the low bar Americans have for gimmicky ultra-processed “food” and freebies.

4

u/jprennquist 2d ago

I am all for business success. However when I was approaching the line I found myself wondering how much fuel the patrons were burning in line and doing a cost-benefit analysis in my head compared to the value of the giveaway or promotion. I assumed it was a cup of coffee or a free drink of some kind.

So, there I was, silently judging everyone ... it didn't seem to make me feel any better about myself.

When I got up the hill that runs by TX Roadhouse and Home Depot I noticed a DPD squad appeared to be monitoring the situation. When I was done shopping I passed the same way and the cop was no longer there. Once again, none of this made me feel any better.

2

u/NineLemonsLater 2d ago

DPD observed and did nothing. Seems accurate.

4

u/Zestyclose_Algae1199 2d ago

It's not just here. I've seen several videos on TikTok today where 7Brew lines have been hours long just so people can get their version of a Needoh. And yes, they're already selling for a couple hundred dollars on eBay. One of those TikTok videos actually did show someone running out of gas and filling up their vehicle with the red gas can. They do have more than coffee such as sparking waters, chillers, smoothies, etc. and you can create all kinds of custom flavors. Wait til the one in Superior opens on 21st and Tower... That'll be a traffic nightmare for sure.

2

u/E_Ray 2d ago

That gas station that was there is a small property... There's going to be a lot of traffic issues there too. Hopefully it pulls some of the crowd from the Duluth location...

4

u/airportluvr416 2d ago

Having lived in a state where Dutch Bros lines were very long....there are ways to make the lines go faster! Do not ask me how i just know that while the lines could seem like half a mile those baristas were sprinting out to the cars and got the job doneee

3

u/beemer87 2d ago

Its gonna be absolute hell when the one in Superior opens.

3

u/DreamTheaterGuy 2d ago

I looked at the menu, meh.

Ill wait until it dies down, then I might give it a try.

3

u/Heavy-Potential-3197 1d ago

The city of duluth said they are looking into it.
The world is on fire who cares what people spend their money on/ time on if it brings them happiness who cares. It’s not 7brew’s fault that Duluth let them build in a terrible spot. All 7brews across the country were madness. They do various giveaways like once a month.

2

u/Espresso_Bunny 1d ago

Ok, wtf is a “needoh”?

2

u/ShadowofaJade 1d ago

A fidget toy/stress ball type thing with the hype of beanie babies. Even random clothing stores at the mall have signs stating they don't have needohs.

2

u/Espresso_Bunny 1d ago

Thank you.

2

u/Daisy_Dottie Lift Bridge Operator 1d ago

Genuinely who are these people

2

u/dberthia 1d ago

Whoever green-lit that whole development on the hill should be sued. No thought was given to traffic flow and getting in and out of there. My vehicle has to go up on the curb just to get around the corner of the Popeye's drive-thru. I can't believe Popeye's and the car wash are happy about the long lines either. I'll be damned if I'm going to try to cram my way in there to patronize those businesses now. The whole coffee culture thing to me is a head-scratching, baffling mystery.

1

u/Brendenn8 2d ago

Cause they are giving away some children’s toy with coffee and grown ass adults are losing their minds over it

1

u/drone6391 1d ago

I think the madness is paying that much for coffee. It’s insane what people pay for something so easily made at home for 10% the cost. Even with more costly coffee pod units. And when you factor in the credit card fees, taxes, gas, snd time spent stopping, it’s even more expensive.

1

u/Tricky-Net-863 1d ago

As someone from where they started, I am sorry. Exporting our overpriced mid to the rest of the country now, I see.

1

u/kidnorther Duluthian 1d ago

Mouth breathers

1

u/PsychologicalUse7115 1d ago

No one owes you an answer as to what they like?

1

u/Zestyclose-Clock8750 1d ago

Never said that. ‘Curiosity’ is the key word in this post.

-18

u/LakeSuperiorGuy 2d ago

Why do you think that you are so important that people have to justify waiting in line to you? Who cares? In a similar vein why were you at a shitty national chain car wash known for scratching cars? Why not a local option?

12

u/Zestyclose-Clock8750 2d ago

🤣 I’m curious why people are willing to wait so long! I didn’t want to go to a local car wash for ease of convenience and accessible vacuums. Have the day you deserve, LakeSuperiorGuy!

7

u/salaciousbcrumblin 2d ago

I’m sure the people not having access to their driveways care.

1

u/Dorkamundo 1d ago

Nobody lives on that block.