A halal coffee chain known for its Yemeni chai and community-driven mission is setting up shop in Sugar Land, with a new cafe planned inside Crown Garden Plaza at 440 Crown Garden Trail. Construction is scheduled to run from August 2 through October 6.
According to houstonchronicle.com, MOTW Coffee is coming to Sugar Land with the new cafe at 440 Crown Garden Trail in Crown Garden Plaza, and the space will occupy 1,498 square feet once finished. A filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation set construction from Aug. 2 through Oct. 6, but the Houston Chronicle reported that opening dates have not yet been announced. The chain serves specialty coffee, espresso drinks, traditional chai, refreshers and Arabic pastries, per the same account.
As reported by whatnow.com, MOTW Coffee and Pastries has ongoing national expansion plans and has opened more than 15 coffee shops across the United States. The Sugar Land cafe's opening date has not been announced.
From an Instagram Page to a Growing Chain
MOTW's roots trace back well before its first espresso machine was ever plugged in. Sajjad Shah launched the @muslimsoftheworld Instagram page while attending Butler University, according to whatnow.com's reporting, aiming to counter rising Islamophobia by sharing everyday stories of Muslims. That storytelling project, which began in 2014, grew into an Instagram following of more than 700,000, the outlet reports.
The digital project didn't stop at social media. Muslims of the World became a published book in 2018, according to whatnow.com, and the project evolved into a nonprofit that has raised millions for humanitarian causes worldwide. The company's coffee arm followed later, with Sajjad Shah and Fatimah Shah opening the first MOTW Coffee & Pastries cafe in Indianapolis.
Franchise Model Fuels a Multi-State Push
MOTW later created a franchise model, per whatnow.com's reporting, and has since expanded into a nationwide chain with shops across Illinois, Massachusetts and Texas. That growth mirrors reporting from other markets: the chain opened three locations in Indiana and a fourth in Lombard, Illinois, before creating a franchise structure for further expansion, according to dallas.culturemap.com.
Elsewhere, MOTW's franchise ambitions have moved briskly. In New Haven, Connecticut, the chain's founder expected to launch a few more locations in the state, as reported by ctinsider.com, which also noted that siblings Bilal, Usama, Ijlal and Zainab Aslam hold the first two franchises in Connecticut, running a location on Crown Street in New Haven. In Plano, Texas, franchisees Fahad and Sofie Danish opened what dallas.culturemap.com described as the largest MOTW shop in the franchise.
Aiming for the Chain's Signature Blend
MOTW Coffee & Pastries aims to blend community-building, philanthropy and traditional Yemeni chai at its locations, according to whatnow.com's reporting, and the company's website states that every cup of coffee served is a testament to its story, commitment and community. A planned MOTW cafe is coming to Sugar Land.
