Emerald Ash Borer Tree Removal Closes Fort Collins Coffee Shop

Coffee fans in Colorado will be stunned and curious about the news of how a Dutch Bros. in Fort Collins has to close for a day.

Dead Trees Force Fort Collins to Close a Dutch Bros. for One Day

Sure, it's just one day, but it's also a Monday. On Mondays, coffee can be a very key component for people getting ready for the long work week. Having to go without their favorite, will definitely be giving them a "case of the Mondays."

We had a boss here at the radio stations that is a huge fan of Dutch Bros. He'd often regale us with his daydreams of operating his own Dutch Bros. He's not alone in is "fandom" of the coffee shop, millions of people love them.

That's why when you hear that the City of Fort Collins needs to shut them down for a day, and it's not because of anything Dutch Bros. did, your ears perk up. Add in that they city uses the term "Large Scale," in reference to the situation, it just seems crazy.

Why is Fort Collins Closing a Dutch Bros.?

Pardon the pun, but it's a situation that's been brewing for a while. The city needs to do a "large scale" removal of some Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) trees surrounding the Dutch Bros. on West Elizabeth near Taft Hill Road. Not just a few trees, 11 of them. ELEVEN.

Looking at the trees, you can see that they have a problem:

Google Street View

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Here is what those 11 trees looked like before being infested with EAB:

Google Street View

Farmers Table was where Dutch Bros. is now for a few years; it closed down in 2020. I believe it was a KFC before that.

Once a tree becomes infested with EAB they begin to fall apart and become a safety hazard to the public; so, these 11 "dead" trees have got to go. The removal of the trees will take place on Monday, June 2, 2025.

Dutch Bros. is stepping up to replace the trees, which is great.

From the City of Fort Collins:

The removal of these mature ash trees will leave a significant gap in this area’s canopy, which is sad to see, explained Kendra Boot, City Forester. I’m grateful that the Dutch Bros Team is leaning in and replacing these trees with more diverse tree species, which will encourage a more resilient canopy at this site for the future.