Written by Caleb Chunn // Photo by Macy Cox
A new 7 Brew officially opened to the public April 17, bringing its coffee, sodas and energy drinks to the Searcy community.
7 Brew, located on 3212 E. Race Ave. where Nova Joe’s coffee shop resided before closing last September, is a drive-thru coffee company that boasts more than 20,000 unique drink combinations. Founded in Rogers, Arkansas, 7 Brew now has 71 franchise locations across the country.
The new Searcy location also featured “community hours” throughout the week, when any customer could receive a free small drink. The last community hours will be today from noon to 1 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m.
Junior Brenley Colbert is a Northwest Arkansas native and has been around 7 Brew since its creation in 2017.
“I think what gives them the upper edge is the fact that they have so many different types of drinks,” Colbert said. “So I always get the energy drinks. And I can’t get that at a Starbucks or Einsteins or something like that. And so while it’s kind of harder because it’s not on campus, it’s kind of worth the trip if you want a fun drink.”
In addition to bringing a new menu and experience to Searcy, 7 Brew is also being managed by a recent Harding alumnus: Dylan Johnston.
After graduating in 2022 and joining the “Brew Crew” this past fall, Johnston was named manager for the new Searcy coffee shop.
“I had to work in Little Rock starting November last year, so I’ve been working there for a few months — just every day driving to Little Rock,” Johnston said. “I became a certified trainer, and so I’ve helped open three stands in Little Rock. So they’re like, ‘Here, now it’s time for Searcy,’ and they offered me the Searcy location.”
Prior to his job with 7 Brew, Johnston managed the Searcy Nova Joe’s and had the opportunity to work with several other Harding students like sophomore J.P. Gumm.
“I just like [Johnston] as a co-worker, and I like him as a person,” Gumm said. “It felt like he cared about each individual person but also the company, too. So it was just a good influence to look up to.”
7 Brew has also hired 60 employees as this particular stand is the first ever retrofitted stand, and it is over double the size of any of their other 71 locations.
