By Sara Beth Williams–
Citrus Heights could see a new coffee shop take over a vacant drive-thru restaurant, which shut down abruptly in January.
Dutch Bros Coffee recently submitted an application proposing the construction of a coffee drive-thru on the corner of Grand Oaks Boulevard and Auburn Boulevard, according to city records. A design permit is currently being reviewed by the city.
The site was previously home to Rally’s Burger, which closed abruptly in January after just over three years in operation.
The scope of the project consists of re-utilizing the existing outside patio and exterior landscaping as is and making minor improvements on the interior. New design renderings submitted to the city show the building repainted with Dutch Bros brand colors. A planning document indicates that new wayfinding and directional elements are also planned for the existing parking lot.
Site plans for the possible new Dutch Bros show two drive-thru lanes wrapping around the building, which has an 827-square-foot footprint. According to the applicant, the double drive-through can comfortably hold 22 vehicles in its stacked queue without impacting existing traffic.
Rally’s, which served food in a drive-thru format, closed in the beginning of January without warning. At the time, the lot was listed for sale on commercial real estate site LoopNet for $1.6 million after initially being listed for sale in early 2024 with an asking price of $2 million, according to the real estate agent at the time.
The parcel was vacant for years and often housed a Christmas tree lot in years gone by. Once an eyesore, the lot received significant improvements in curb appeal when Rally’s opened in October 2021.
The opening day for Rally’s Burger drive-thru saw long lines of vehicles extending into the adjacent bowling alley parking lot, with additional customers lining up at a walk-up window. The owner at the time told The Sentinel prior to the grand opening that he had struggled to hire enough staff, which initially delayed the opening.
Currently Citrus Heights has two Dutch Bros coffee drive thru’s, one on Lichen Drive, and one on Madison Avenue.
The design review permit is under consideration by city planners. No date for the hearing has been listed.
