Great-grandma steered her to a drive-through business

Sara Gadd brewed up a business plan in 2019 that would keep coffee and customers flowing.

At nearly 2 years old, Drive-Thru Brew has served countless customers and helped Gadd realize a dream of owning her own business doing what she loves.

Gadd, 32, was born and raised in Wrangell and grew up in a coffee-loving household. "My great-grandma's (nickname) was Coffee Gram. We come from a long line of coffee lovers. I've always drank coffee as long as I can remember."

That love of coffee is what led Gadd to focus on the type of business she wanted to open. She began researching and planning in 2019, thinking that a business focused on java would do well here. As she looked around, the only available space that would work was the site of a defunct self-service carwash on the corner of Howell Avenue and Bennett Street, just toward town from the U.S. Forest Service offices.

She bought a small trailer and rented the plot. The space later went on the market, so Gadd bought it.

The business model for Drive-Thru Brew was such that when the pandemic hit, Gadd was prepared because she was already using curbside pickup, something many food service businesses had to adopt to stay afloat. Although slowdowns in the supply chain did push back opening the business until July 2020.

In addition to hot and cold coffee and tea drinks, including mochas, lattes and chai drinks, Gadd's menu has blended coffees (like a shake), smoothies, juices, Italian sodas and a popular caffeinated alternative called lotus energy drinks.

"It is energy from a flower, so it's like caffeine from the lotus plant," Gadd said of the popular drink. "Usually, my non-coffee drinkers get that. Even my coffee drinkers get that sometimes."

Though she hadn't worked in the coffee business before, Gadd learned all she could through the internet and went through a training with Dillanos Coffee Roasters, based in Sumner, Washington.

Food is also served at Drive-Thru Brew, but menu items aren't as consistent due to rising costs or unavailability for many things.

"With the way things are going, I think the barge prices have gone up three times since I opened," Gadd said. "Milk has doubled since I opened. It's actually cheaper for me to walk into the store and buy it from there. A lot of the food that I used to offer, I can't get anymore, like breakfast sandwiches. I used to have a whole variety."

Since the coffee shop is located at the top of a hill, Gadd said business tends to slow down through the winter as the road can be slick and dark mornings. The winter hours are 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. She might extend the open hours to 4 p.m. in the summer season.

Hailie Davis, a security officer for TSA and waitress at the Marine Bar, makes it a point to stop at Drive-Thru Brew almost every day for a caramel macchiato, but will try other drinks, like the lotus energy drink, on occasion.

"They have awesome service," Davis said. "They are very kind, welcoming, quick and consistent. I tell my friends and coworkers that they have good fresh-made coffee."

Gadd has one employee, Maddy Harding, who works weekends for her, allowing Gadd to focus on her personal life and spend time with her five children. It helps that she loves her business and thrives at what she does.

"I like being in the shop. That part is super fun," Gadd said. "Some of the stuff behind that isn't as fun, but it's still worth it."