End Cap Real Estate: What Businesses Work Best?

End caps are more than just storefronts—they’re opportunities for businesses to stand out and succeed in competitive markets. Learn which business ideas thrive in that type of space.

What is an End Cap in Real Estate Terms?

An end cap refers to a storefront space located at either end of a retail shopping center. These spaces typically occupy the corners or edges of the building and are highly visible to passing traffic, making them prime locations for businesses seeking increased visibility and foot traffic. End cap real estate sites can provide businesses with ample space for branding. Similar to how a corner apartment has more windows, end cap sites give owners more room to place their logo or business name.

Businesses that Thrive in End Cap Spaces

You may think that any business could thrive in an end cap space, but there are a select few that tend to do exceptionally well.

• Retail stores: End caps tend to have more window space, which works well for retail locations. Owners can showcase their products prominently, attracting customers to potentially make impulse purchases.
• Pet grooming: The increased foot traffic that end cap locations provide can help pet groomers build their client base – especially if their business is located in a busy strip mall. Pet owners can drop off their furry friends, run a few errands, and pick up their pets all in the same area.
• Fitness centers/gyms: End cap sites give traditional gyms, boutique fitness centers, and yoga or Pilates studios more room for equipment, classes, private training sessions, and merchandise.
• Hair salons: In addition to strong visibility and foot traffic, end cap sites typically have plenty of parking for customers. This is ideal for hair salons. It can take quite a bit of time to wash, cut, blow-dry, and style someone’s hair.
• Convenience stores/pharmacies: End caps are perfect for convenience stores or pharmacies because people can stop in and quickly pick up prescriptions, grab any items they forgot while shopping earlier in the week, or make impulse buys.
• Restaurants, eateries, and cafes: End cap sites provide an ideal footprint for dining establishments. Aside from increased visibility, end caps can also offer potential seating options, both indoors and outdoors. The added space also allows business owners the ability to lay out their establishment in a variety of ways. From multiple window seating options that are more inviting to passersby to creating a cozier ambiance that still allows for plentiful seating, the options are endless. Drive-thru restaurants do especially well in end cap sites. Prioritizing convenience, 47% of Americans won’t even consider going to a place without a drive-thru.

Why Scooter’s Coffee® is a Great End Cap Option

Scooter’s Coffee is a rapidly-growing drive-thru coffee franchise with almost 800 locations nationwide. Recently, we’ve expanded our model offerings to include end cap locations. Originally proud purveyors of the standalone, drive-thru kiosk, we’ve seen the potential of end cap real estate and have decided to embrace it.

We strategically choose our end cap locations based on specific criteria to maximize visibility and accessibility. Our end cap models typically range from 800 to 1,000 square feet and have a single drive-thru lane. We seek to find sites along popular morning commute routes with high vehicle traffic, located on hard corners and intersections with stoplights.

Partner with a brand that can actually help you find the best location for your coffee shop franchise.
To learn more about our franchise opportunity, request information today, and a member of our franchise development team will be in touch.