Yemeni coffee is headed for McKinney’s Ridgeline Plaza, where Joda Coffee is under construction and gearing up to pour Middle Eastern-style drinks and fruit-forward refreshers in a nearly 3,000-square-foot space.
Owner Sam Alaqel told reporters he is aiming to wrap up the build-out this summer and open in August 2026. In an interview with Community Impact, he said Joda will focus on Yemeni-style coffee drinks and refreshers and is targeting an August opening. That story notes the shop will occupy a 2,986-square-foot space at 5975 Ridgeline Drive, Ste. 100, and was published June 2, 2026.
State project filings back up that a full interior build is underway. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation shows a project registered April 16, for an interior finish-out at Ridgeline Plaza, with a May 1 start date and an estimated completion date of Nov. 2. The record lists the tenant as Sam Alaqel and pegs the renovation budget at an estimated $200,000. The public filing is available from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
Brand and build
Behind the scenes, the Joda name has been getting its legal footing, too. JODA Coffee LLC filed a federal trademark application for “JODA COFFEE” in November 2025, signaling that the brand work started well before the McKinney storefront came into focus. The application appears in public trademark databases and can be viewed via Justia Trademarks.
Where it fits in McKinney's coffee scene
Joda is set to plug into a steadily growing specialty-coffee scene in Collin County that already includes Yemeni-style concepts and other independent cafes. Qahwah House, for example, operates a Yemeni-style cafe with a McKinney location that has helped introduce local customers to regional coffee traditions and ritual service. For more on how the indie scene is percolating, see Qahwah House and a recent Hoodline look at another new McKinney shop.
Alaqel’s August goal and the state filing’s November completion date together hint at a phased rollout, with the possibility of signage or a soft opening before every last interior detail is complete. Community Impact reported the owner’s timetable, while the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation records list Nov. 2 as the formal completion date. So Ridgeline Plaza regulars can expect to see construction activity, new signage, and eventual pre-opening menus taking shape as the fit-out moves through the summer.
