Photo by Kazuma Iwata ’28/The Choate News
Behind the counter at 7 Brew.
By Claire Liu ’28, Reporter
A brand-new coffee shop has just opened in Wallingford! On September 14, 7 Brew Coffee Shop launched its first location in New England, attracting many excited customers. This drive-through coffee shop offers a variety of drinks, from 7 Fizz (flavor-infused sparkling water) to a Cinnamon Roll coffee to Pixie Stick Nightshade, a 7 Brew energy drink.
Before making its way to Connecticut, 7 Brew operated in 29 states with nearly 300 locations around the country. Mr. Garrett Wilmoth, the stand manager of the Wallingford 7 Brew, said, “It’s not just about selling coffee, but we like to sell experiences, and we feel that we give that to everybody, everywhere we go.” He also mentioned that because Connecticut had never had a 7 Brew before, many community members were unfamiliar with the brand. “So, it was just the opportunity to be able to bring that here to show the culture of 7 Brew and who we are,” Mr. Wilmoth said.
Despite being new to the community, 7 Brew has already made an impression on many Wallingford residents. One customer, Ms. Kristen Curtis, said, “The variety of the drinks is what separates 7 Brew from other coffee shops. There is coffee, smoothies, shakes, teas, and many other drinks.” Another customer, Mr. Zay Carr, added, “7 Brew is not pricey like the other coffee shops.”
Mr. Wilmoth believes that 7 Brew has been successful in achieving its goal of connecting with the Wallingford community. “I think we wanted to show everybody, starting in Wallingford, that we can branch out, hopefully later across Connecticut in different places,” he said. 7 Brew aims to familiarize everyone with its unique offerings and create a fun, interactive atmosphere for customers to enjoy a tasty drink. “It doesn’t have to be a boring drive-through, or someone takes your card and pays with it, and they just shut the window,” he said. “We have someone always talking to the customers, and we have fun with them. We include them. It’s like a family.”
