Dutch Bros Coffee drive-thru approved for National City’s Sweetwater Road

A new Dutch Bros Coffee shop is brewing in National City after the Planning Commission unanimously approved the project on Monday.

The 950-square-foot coffee shop will replace a vacant Pizza Hut building at 1838 Sweetwater Road in the Sweetwater Crossings Shopping Center.

Assistant Planner Sophia Depew said the project includes dual drive-thru lanes that can queue up to 26 vehicles, a walk-up window, and three parking spaces. The shop will operate from 5 a.m. to midnight daily and employ eight to 10 people.

This will be the second Dutch Bros Coffee approved in National City, with a Plaza Boulevard store expected to open in January 2026.

“Dutch Bros loves serving the Chula Vista and El Cajon communities so it only felt natural to open in National City,” a spokesperson for the company said in an email.

Founded in 1992 in Grants Pass, Oregon, Dutch Bros Coffee operates more than 1,000 drive-thru locations across 24 states. The company offers a range of beverages, including specialty coffee, teas, lemonades, and its proprietary Rebel energy drink.

Construction on the Sweetwater Road location is expected to begin after the city’s 30-day appeal period, with opening anticipated in late 2026.