The building for a new 7 Brew Coffee location has been delivered and set in place along Broadway in Campbellsville, making a visible step toward the coffee chain’s arrival in the community.
The fast-growing coffee company is known for its drive-thru model and customizable drink menu. Most locations operate without indoor seating and focus on quick service for customers ordering from their vehicles.
According to Campbellsville Mayor Dennis Benningfield, the project had been in discussion for more than a year before the building arrived on site.
“We were very excited and glad to be a part of the negotiations,” said Benningfield. “It was about a year and a half in the making.”
Benningfield said the new business will bring both new services and job opportunities to the community.
“They are creating jobs for Campbellsville, and a service people really appreciate,” Benningfield said.
City leaders say attracting businesses like 7 Brew has been part of a broader effort to expand Campbellsville’s economy and provide more options for residents and visitors.
“Any new retail business creates an average of 15 to 25 new jobs,” Benningfield said. “There are more businesses coming to town. They love Campbellsville and what we have to offer.”
Benningfield went on to mention how city leaders remain optimistic about the future development of the community.
“I promised the citizens of this community to lead in a new direction and vision, and we are making this a reality,” Benningfield said. “Campbellsville – there is more to come.”
Campbellsville Planning and Zoning Supervisor Allen Crabtree provided additional details, noting the project had been in discussion with the city before plans were formally submitted.
“Phone dialogue started in the fourth quarter of 2024,” Crabtree said. “The proposed site plan for their initial location was received in March 2025.”
Considering that the site sits along a busy road, transportation officials also reviewed traffic patterns during the planning process.
“The state was excited because the entrance that was originally used has been removed,” Crabtree said. “This helps traffic flow in the east bound lane of KY-68.”
As for community response, Crabtree said the project has been overwhelmingly positive throughout the duration of its development.
“We had several calls of support and excitement,” Crabtree said. “When the main structure was lifted from the truck, there was a group of onlookers cheering. The contractor said that was the first time he had experienced that.”
Crabtree said while construction can sometimes appear quick, projects like this typically involve months of planning before work begins.
“From the first contact to property selection, site studies, plan submittals and construction schedules, every single piece takes time,” Crabtree said.
Information about the opening timeline, hiring and community impact was provided by Jacob Jennings, who oversees new stand operations for 7 Brew in Kentucky.
Jennings said the company follows a structured rollout process leading up to opening day.
“Before we officially open, we always do about two weeks of marketing events, so that’s giving free drinks out to the community,” Jennings said. “We also do ‘Caffeine for a Cause,’ so that’s partnering with a local nonprofit to raise money for them.”
While an exact opening date has not yet been announced, Jennings indicated the timeline is approaching quickly.
“We’re hoping for sure before June,” Jennings said.
Jennings added that customers can expect promotions throughout the opening week.
“We do free drink hours all of opening week—there will be three hours each day where we give away free drinks,” Jennings said. “Then that following Saturday will be our ‘Swag Day’ where we will give away free 7 Brew merch.”
The new location is also expected to bring a significant number of job opportunities, particularly for students and part-time workers.
“We just opened up applications last week and I’ll be interviewing for the next three weeks,” Jennings said. “We hire anywhere between 60 to 80 people per stand, so definitely looking for a lot of good people.”
Jennings noted that 7 Brew’s rapid growth across Kentucky is a mix of larger cities and smaller communities like Campbellsville.
“We have over 20 locations now, just in Kentucky, so it’s pretty cool to see how fast it’s growing, especially in towns like Campbellsville where it’s more of a university city,” Jennings said.
Based on previous openings, Jennings said the community response is typically strong.
“We give away anywhere from 30,000 to 50,000 free drinks during that entire period of time whenever opening a stand,” Jennings said. “I’ve seen people camp overnight—I’ve seen lines with over 120 cars in them. It’s insane.”
Jennings said he expects a similar level of excitement in Campbellsville.
“I think it’ll do really well. I already know a lot of people are excited for it,” Jennings said.
Those interested in applying for a position can do so through the company’s official website at 7brew.com.
