Coffee concepts 7 Brew, Ellianos, Tim Hortons make plans for SWFL

Something’s about to brew throughout Southwest Florida, and there’s going to be plenty of coffee. 

Coffee chains new to the region are preparing to proliferate with multiple retail locations over the next two to three years. 

7 Brew begins the surge at a shopping center outparcel in Port Charlotte. The brand began in 2017, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It is scheduled to make its Southwest Florida debut Sept. 8 at Bayshore Village, 4255 Tamiami Trail, in Port Charlotte. 

Tim Hortons and Ellianos Coffee also are preparing to open locations in Charlotte, Collier and Lee counties. 

“Coffee is making a massive explosion into Southwest Florida,” said Jim Shiebler, a senior vice president with CBRE. Just across the street from the new 7 Brew, he is listing a two-tenant outparcel with another brand known for its coffee — Dunkin’. That building at 4233 Tamiami Trail is listed for $2.6 million. 

But the bulk of the expanding brands are newcomers to the market. 

7 Brew plans on opening nine locations. One in Lehigh Acres is on target to open by the end of the year, Shiebler said, and three more in Fort Myers also are planned, although the exact locations have yet to be announced. He said Punta Gorda is slated to get one in early 2026 followed by four in Collier County in 2027. 

7 Brew sells cold brew, energy, fizz and smoothies, shakes, teas and lemonade. 

“Our pipeline for the southwest side of Florida is huge,” said Daxton Neal, director of real estate for 7 Brew. “You just have a lot of business here. It’s tough real estate, but you can do deals. There are people moving here every day. There’s a rush of incoming money and people. We just think it’s a great, stable market.” 

Neal credited Starbucks for paving the way. When Starbucks slowed its pace of opening stores, that opened the door for new brands like 7 Brew to step forward, Neal said. 

“Our owners decided during COVID, which businesses are strong and staying strong,” Neal said. “Coffee is a low-touch operation. We felt like we could navigate through the pandemic and grow the business. Starbucks paved the way for us to launch a product.” 

Tim Hortons is scheduled to open its first Florida location in October in Lakewood Ranch. The first Southwest Florida location should open by the summer of 2026, with a signed lease in place at Cranberry Commons shopping center in Port Charlotte, at U.S. 41 and Cranberry Boulevard, Shiebler said. 

Business partnerships in Lee and Collier County locations should be confirmed by the end of this year, Shiebler said. 

“Tim Hortons is considered the Starbucks of Canada,” Shiebler said. 

Ellianos launched in 2002 in Lake City. Six locations are in development in Southwest Florida. They will join the first one, already open at 19175 Peachland Blvd. in Port Charlotte. 

Lehigh Acres will be getting Ellianos by the end of the year. A combined three more are planned for Fort Myers and Cape Coral over the next 18 months, plus two more in Charlotte County during that span, Shiebler said. 

“They’re really diversified,” Shiebler said of these new concepts. “It’s not just coffee for adults. It’s shakes, smoothies, red bull drinks, teas. 

“So, it’s quite diverse. In fact, a lot of new concepts, you can get three generations, put them in the car and go through the drive-thru, and each generation can find something they’ll enjoy. 

“It appeals to all ages from seniors to kids.” 

Shiebler said there’s plenty of room for all the competition, even at Bayshore Village in Port Charlotte, where the 7 Brew and Dunkin’ will be located just steps away from one another. 

“The owners of this shopping center were really smart and strategic,” Shiebler said. “I actually sold them this center in 2020. We walked it and we talked about the ability to convert the parking lot and the grounds into income. 

“The Dunkin’ property is a really beautiful property. It’s exceptionally positioned. It has numerous access points. And certainly, it’s directly in front of Publix, the Mercedes of the grocers. 

“There’s plenty of room for two coffee concepts, particularly  Dunkin’ and 7 Brew. Because Dunkin’s huge business stream — a lot of it is food. And 7 Brew is very limited in that category. There’s certainly enough demand. They have a very large facility, and they have a very storied operating history with tremendous success at this location.”