Dutch Bros opens in Lincoln

After years of anticipation from residents, Dutch Bros Coffee has officially opened its doors in Lincoln, located at 99 Lincoln Blvd. Jennifer and Joey Medeiris of Lathrop shared at 11 p.m. Sunday, the night before opening, they became invested in Dutch Bros in 2020. Joey said Jennifer was getting tired of Starbucks and needed a change. When a Dutch Bros location opened near them, it settled the deal. They became loyal customers from that day on. Jennifer's go-to drink is a Golden Eagle, which combines espresso, Half and Half, caramel and vanilla flavors with a caramel drizzle. Joey's is any milkshake they offer. The duo travels to Dutch Bros openings in Northern California often. Jennifer owns a printing business called Jennifers Creations in the Bay Area. She uses the extra materials from print jobs to create Dutch Bros stickers. She created a fan-made sticker and pin to hand out to the stand's new broistas (the company's term for their employees). The sticker includes the town's name, the iconic railroad tracks and train, the new company, date of the opening and some farm land to highlight the culture of the new establishment. People began lining up to sit in the closed drive-thru at 9 p.m. Monday waiting in anticipation, according to the Medeiris family. With eight hours to spare, the car community spends their time chatting, sleeping, then walking to open establishments to use the restroom. Jennifer and Joey said they walked to Walmart and Safeway in 40-degree temperatures to use the restroom. They said they are seasoned professionals at camping at the openings. They brought a heating blanket and jackery, a portable power supply. Joey said Dutch Bros is going to take over Starbucks. "In my opinion, a lot of younger people are switching from Starbucks to Dutch Bros," he explained. "I would say that this being another location, I mean, that really just settles the deal for a lot of people, and it helps create a wider group." Dutch Bros in Lincoln opened at 5 a.m. Monday with a promotion of customers receiving a free keychain with any drink purchase.