Dutch Bros to Convert 20 Carolinas-Based Clutch Coffee Drive-Thrus, Staff Offered Transfers

Dutch Bros has acquired Clutch Coffee Bar’s 20 drive-thru locations in the Carolinas and will convert the sites into Dutch Bros stores, a move that will affect crew, managers, and local operations. Clutch notified customers and staff that all locations would close temporarily, with the last reported day of operation being Jan. 16, to allow for renovations and rebranding.

The companies say the transition includes opportunities for Clutch team members to move over to Dutch Bros. Statements from the involved brands emphasized giving Clutch employees new roles under the Dutch Bros platform as stores are rebuilt and systems are rolled out. Local reporting on the closures reiterated that current employees would be offered chances to transition into the new Dutch Bros locations.

Conversion acquisitions of this type typically involve rebranding, retraining, and operational handoffs. For store-level crews and managers, that usually means short-term closures, potential rehirings or transfers, and required training on new point-of-sale systems, recipes, operational procedures, and the Dutch Bros service model. Those integrations often include scheduled training sessions, revised shift structures, and changes to supply chains and inventory practices as the new operator standardizes stores to its brand specifications.

For workers, the immediate impact is loss of on-site work during renovation periods and uncertainty about timing and staffing levels when doors reopen. Transfers can preserve employment for many crew members, but they may come with changes to schedules, job descriptions, or pay structures as Dutch Bros applies its policies. Management-level staff sometimes face a mix of retention offers and competition from external hires depending on corporate staffing plans. Benefits continuity, seniority, and rehiring guarantees vary by deal; Clutch and Dutch Bros have highlighted transition opportunities but have not published a detailed timeline for reopenings or the full scope of workforce integration.

The conversion also affects workplace dynamics on the ground. Crew members will navigate retraining and new performance expectations while local managers coordinate logistics for reopening. Store closures can compress income for hourly workers between the last day of operation and the first day under the new brand, so the speed of renovations and the clarity of rehiring offers will shape employee financial outcomes.

This transaction is part of a broader pattern of rapid expansion and consolidation in quick-service coffee, where national chains grow by converting smaller regional operators. For affected employees, the coming weeks will be a period to watch for formal offers, training schedules, and details on pay and benefits under Dutch Bros. For the local coffee workforce, the conversion promises both disruption and the possibility of continuity within a larger franchise platform as stores transition to the Dutch Bros model.