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.