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Nebraska-based chain enters Lincoln’s competitive coffee market
BY JEFF KORBELIK / Lincoln Journal Star
Thursday, Oct 06, 2005 - 11:51:36 pm CDT

Fifteen years ago, the only good cup of coffee was the one you brewed at home. Today, however, you can’t throw a mug in downtown Lincoln without hitting a coffeeshop. But that hasn’t stopped Scooter’s Coffeehouse from entering the fray.

The new java shop at the corner of 11th and O streets is the first Lincoln location of the Nebraska-based chain.

Scooter’s is owned by Rita Metcalf, her son Jason and his wife Nancy, a former University of Nebraska-Lincoln volleyball standout.

They opened the store Sept. 9 and plan to open a second Scooter’s in the old Salvation Army building in the Haymarket by the end of the year — less than one block from two other coffeeshops.

“I don’t look at it as competition,” Rita Metcalf said. “I look at it as more choices, which is good for everybody.”

Well, at least it is for the patrons.

Scooter’s started in Bellevue in 1998. Today, it’s the largest locally owned coffeehouse in Nebraska and Iowa, with more than 30 locations throughout the Omaha metro area.

Expansion beyond Omaha is fairly recent, with the Lincoln store and three in the Kansas City area now open. Two more are scheduled to start up soon in Austin, Texas, and Scottsdale, Ariz., respectively.

The Lincoln store features the chain’s new store design, with browns and yellows giving it a warm, fall-like feel. The setup has the bar in the middle with seating off to the left by the windows and beans sold in bulk to the right.

Scooter’s prides itself on its roasting. It flies in coffee beans from all over the world to roast in its Bellevue warehouse. Fresh beans are sent weekly to the Lincoln store. Some of the bean are free trade organic.

“When I looked at Scooter’s, I was taken with them,” said Rita Metcalf, who also runs a dry cleaner in east Lincoln. “Their focus is on quality.”

In addition to beans and brewed coffees, Scooter’s sells cold smoothies (fruit or espresso blended) and espresso drinks, which are made “Italian style” or manually instead of with a machine. For munchies, Scooter’s has pastries from Grateful Bread.

Rita Metcalf said the most popular menu item has been Scooter’s “caramelicious,” a rich, sweet latte with caramel sauce, whipped cream and enough caffeine to take you into next week. Specialty drinks range from $2.50 to $3.90.

Scooter’s has six brewed coffee choices daily, including a gourmet flavor of the day. Cups are available in 12- ($1.35), 16- ($1.60) and 20-ounce ($1.75) sizes.

Bulk coffees currently are rotated. If you don’t see something, ask Metcalf or one of her employees. A complete list is available on Scooter’s Web site at www.scooterscoffee.com.

Prices for a half-pound range from $5.75 to $7.25. A pound costs from $10.95 to $13.95.

Scooter’s also carries Hawaiian Kona (100 percent, not blended) and Jamaican Blue Mountain — two premium beans. The Kona runs $25.95 for a pound and the Blue Mountain is $49.95.

We’ll see if Scooter’s can hang with established shops in Lincoln’s competitive coffee market. The coffeehouse already has a lot going for it. It has a good product with a Nebraska connection. Local ties are always good.

Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com.

Dining out

Scooter’s Coffeehouse

1033 O St., Suite 100

Atmosphere: Casual

Specialty: Coffee, smoothies, espresso drinks

Payment: Cash, checks, major credit cards

Hours: 6 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday

Phone: (402) 474-5282

Web site: www.scooterscoffeehouse.com