Day: October 1, 2026

The wins just keep coming for Olathe.  Another major employer has officially joined Olathe’s rapidly growing industrial landscape. Amazon’s newest Kansas City-area facility is open at 17320 S. Hedge Lane, adding a regional distribution center that’s 1 million sq. ft., and about 800 full-time and part-time jobs to our community. The new facility becomes Amazon’s 14th operational location in the Kansas City metro and strengthens Olathe’s position as a destination for large-scale distribution and logistics operations. “We are proud to welcome Amazon’s newest regional distribution center to Olathe,” City of Olathe Mayor John Bacon said. “This facility and the 800 jobs it brings to our community are a testament to Olathe’s strength as a destination for world-class employers.” Bacon pointed to Olathe’s location, workforce and continued emphasis on economic development as important factors in attracting projects of this magnitude. “Our strategic location, outstanding workforce and commitment to economic growth continue to attract significant investment,” Bacon added. “We look forward to a lasting partnership with Amazon that benefits our residents and our community.” The new Olathe center will serve an important role in Amazon’s Kansas City-area operations. Rather than acting as the final stop before packages reach doorsteps, this new regional distribution center will supply Amazon’s network throughout the metro. Nearly a quarter of a million of the region’s most popular products will be stocked at the Olathe facility, positioning high-demand inventory closer to customers and helping improve delivery speed and efficiency throughout the metro. “Olathe’s strategic location, strong transportation infrastructure and dedicated workforce made it an ideal choice for this regional distribution center,” Jason Vangalis, Amazon economic development manager said. The facility receives, stores and ships inventory daily, continually replenishing Amazon’s downstream fulfillment and delivery operations. Employees inside the building pick, sort, prepare and ship products to keep inventory moving through the company’s regional network. For Amazon, the Olathe investment represents another step in the company’s continued growth in Kansas and across the Kansas City metro. “Amazon is excited to continue growing its footprint in Kansas and the Kansas City metro as a good employer, as this is part of Amazon’s $10 billion+ invested in the state since 2010,” Vangalis said. “Due to our great partnership with the City of Olathe, we’re proud to continue investing in the region.” He said the new center ultimately will help Amazon get products to customers across the metro more quickly. “This new facility will further enhance delivery speeds for our valued customers across the metro,” he added. Beyond its role in Amazon’s distribution network, the facility brings a significant employment boost to the community, which is one of the biggest bonuses for Olathe. Approximately 800 full-time and part-time positions have been created at the Olathe center. For full-time employees, Amazon offers benefits beginning on the first day of employment, including health care, a 401(k) with company match and up to 20 weeks of paid parental leave, and have access to Amazon’s Career Choice program, which prepays tuition for workers pursuing education and skills training in high-demand fields. The combination of new jobs and another major corporate investment adds to the momentum surrounding south Olathe. “We’re thrilled that Amazon chose Olathe to expand its footprint in the metro area,” Olathe Chamber CEO Tim McKee said. “The jobs they bring and the positive impact on our community are a huge win for Olathe.”

Kansas-grown coffee and eatery concept opens its first franchise location in Olathe Christian Coleman spent a while trying to find the right location to open his first Mokas Coffee & Eatery, looking all over the Kansas City area. It didn’t take long for Olathe to rise to the top. “We looked at locations all around Kansas City, and while we are planning six Mokas in the area, Olathe quickly became our favorite initial community,” Coleman said. “Olathe has so much to offer. It’s a great community and is really growing.” That first KC location, at 11814 S. Fellows St., celebrated its grand opening Wednesday, marking two milestones at once. It’s Coleman’s first Mokas location and the first franchise-owned location of the coffee and eatery concept. And for Coleman, Olathe is just the beginning. The founder and president of Midwest Restaurant Group has signed on to develop six Mokas locations across Johnson, Douglas and Shawnee counties, with the Olathe café serving as the flagship for that expansion. Coleman’s interest in Mokas began long before his Olathe location began to take shape. He met the company’s founders while the franchise concept was in its infancy. When he learned the company was considering taking Mokas into new markets through franchising, he was all in. “I immediately jumped in,” Coleman said. “I love the concept — high-quality breakfast and lunch offerings, delicious beverages prepared by experienced baristas, an inviting atmosphere, convenient drive-through, all-age appeal, community involvement and a smiling staff making every visit a joy.” That combination, according to Coleman, made Mokas stand out. Founded in Salina in 2005, Mokas has grown from its Kansas roots and celebrated its 20th anniversary last winter. Now, they’re entering a new chapter of growth. The Olathe opening represents a significant part of that next chapter. “Watching him open the doors on our first-ever franchise location, after celebrating our 20th anniversary, is a full-circle moment for our brand,” Mokas President and JRI Hospitality CEO Jason Ingermanson said. “Christian sets the standard for how we’ll continue to grow across the Midwest.” While coffee is in the name, Coleman sees the expansive Mokas menu as one of its biggest strengths. The café offers breakfast and lunch wraps, sandwiches, soups, salads and pastries alongside specialty coffee, cold brews, frappes, smoothies and energy drinks. And Coleman already has his favorites – the loaded avocado toast with bacon and eggs. That’s followed closely by the chipotle breakfast sandwich, turkey bacon Swiss, hot pepper bacon jam turkey melt and chicken noodle soup. He had a favorite drink, too. “I love the flapjack, iced or frappe,” he said. “But you really can’t go wrong with any of our specialty beverages.” But when you get right down to it, coffee remains at the heart of Mokas. They roast their coffee in-house in Arizona where a master roaster sources premium Arabica beans from Brazil and Colombia and develops roast profiles designed to bring out the flavors. The house blend combines select South American beans, resulting in what Coleman describes as a rich, smooth cup without an overly bitter or burnt flavor. The same is true for the espresso, which is designed to have a smooth, balanced profile without being overly dark. Coleman said delivering fresh breakfast and lunch items alongside highly customizable beverages creates a more complex kitchen operation than customers might expect from a quick-service restaurant. The goal, he said, is to make sure they never notice that complexity. One part of the whole process that has exceeded Coleman’s expectations is on the workforce side. The new restaurant is expected to create between 45 and 60 jobs. Coleman said the reception from the broader Olathe community has been just as encouraging. Local service providers and trades have supported the project throughout construction, while future customers have been following the restaurant’s progress as opening day approaches. “This is one friendly town, and we’re proud to be a new member of the Olathe community,” he said. Coleman’s plans for Mokas extend beyond what happens inside the restaurant. During its first month, the Olathe café will donate 10 percent of sales from all 16-ounce specialty drinks to KidsTLC. Coleman said that kind of involvement will remain an important part of the business as it becomes established in Olathe. “We plan on being a strong participant in the Olathe community,” he said. “Whether working with charities such as KidsTLC, or doing special community events with like-minded businesses, we believe in the friendly neighborhood approach.” For Coleman, the opening of Mokas is something bigger than the completion of a building or the launch of another restaurant. It’s the beginning of a bigger plan — and one he deliberately chose to start in Olathe. “I’ve always been driven to create experiences that bring people together,” Coleman said. “Opening our first Mokas in Olathe is the realization of everything my team and I have been working toward. “This community has already shown us so much warmth and we can’t wait to bring that same Midwest hospitality to our guests every single day.” And Olathe is ready.