News Dining

Tamarac Commission Approves New Drive-Thru Coffee Restaurant

by David Volz February 26, 2026

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Tamarac Commission Approves New Drive-Thru Coffee Restaurant 2

Franchise model for Scooter’s Coffee. {Scooter’s Coffee}

Tamarac residents will soon have a new coffee shop.

After some discussion during the February 25 meeting, the commission approved an order granting a special exception approval for Scooter’s Coffee-Tamarac to allow for a drive-through restaurant in the Mixed Use Corridor Zoning District at 8201 North Pine Island Road.

Scooter’s focuses on high-quality coffee but does offer sandwiches, cookies, and muffins. The restaurant does not have a dining room and sells only through walk-up and drive-through windows.

The married owners, Luisa Chong and Pierre Antoine Tricen, told the commission they have invested about $80,000 in their new venture. Tricen said Scooter’s only uses the highest-quality coffee beans and will be a positive for the community. He said the restaurant will hire at least 20 local people and that construction is projected to begin in May 2026 and be completed by August 2026.

The restaurant will replace a former 7/11. Tricen said it will include about 1,400 square feet. He also said it will generate less car traffic than the 7/11 did.

Commissioners Krystal Patterson and Dr. Kicia Daniel said they wanted Scooter’s to welcome high school students and treat them as respected customers. They said it was important that J.P. Taravella students who would want a coffee and a snack before and after school would feel welcome. Tricen promised to treat younger customers well.

Vice Mayor Marlon Bolton also requested that owners welcome younger people and said he supports small businesses and wanted Scooter’s to be successful.

Mayor Michelle J. Gomez was the one vote against Scooter’s. She said the restaurant would cause traffic problems on Pine Island Road, and a sit-down restaurant would be a better fit for the plaza.

Scooter’s Coffee is a franchise with over 850 locations across 31 states, with a heavy concentration in the Midwest. The chain has several locations on the west coast of Florida.

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Author Profile

David Volz

David Volz has worked as a writer in South Florida for 35 years. He has written for the Sun-Sentinel, Hollywood Gazette, School Transportation News, South Dade News Leaders, Observer among others. He has an MA in Communications from Florida Atlantic University and a BA in Communications from Valparaiso University. Volz teaches Communications at Miami Dade College and Palm Beach State College. He lives in Coral Springs and enjoys running and participating in 5Ks and half-marathons.