Coffee company with Columbia area locations has been bought by a national brand
A coffee company with locations across the Carolinas, including in the Columbia area, is being purchased by a larger, national brand.
Clutch Coffee Bar, which has a handful of drive-thru shops in the Midlands, announced on social media and on its website that it is “in the process of reaching an agreement for Dutch Bros to acquire Clutch.” The last day of business for Clutch will be Friday, Jan. 16, Clutch said on its website.
Dutch Bros Coffee has more than 1,000 locations across the U.S., many in the western part of the country. It has been in the nascent stages of coming to the Columbia market. For instance, plans have been filed with the city to build a location at 7001 Garners Ferry Road.
Midlands Clutch locations include spots on Two Notch Road and Devine Street in Columbia and on Columbia Avenue in Lexington. Clutch has been around for 8 years overall, with stores in parts of South Carolina and North Carolina. It debuted in the Midlands market in 2023.
Clutch says on its website that “following a short closure and renovation period,” Dutch Bros plans to reopen Clutch locations across North and South Carolina as Dutch Bros shops. An exact timeline for when the changeover to Dutch Bros will be completed was not publicly announced.
“This was not a decision made lightly — rather, it comes from a place of deep pride in what we’ve built together, and a belief that this next step will allow the culture, energy, and community-first spirit you helped create continue to grow on an even bigger stage,” Clutch co-founder Darren Spicer wrote in a letter to customers on the Clutch website.
This story was originally published January 14, 2026 at 10:59 AM.
