A new coffee shop with a big mission is making its way to Plano. MOTW Coffee and Pastries will open in east Plano at 4013 14th St. #407, in a shopping center anchored by a Kroger. The goal of the shop is not just to serve quality coffee, but also to create a space where people can connect with one another.
To celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, January 11, the shop will offer lattes for just $3.
MOTW was founded ten years ago in Indiana by Sajjad Shad, then a college student. Shad initially created an Instagram page called @muslimsoftheworld to challenge misconceptions about Muslims. “I wanted to show a side of Muslims people hadn’t seen before, through stories that would resonate with others, not just within our faith, but as human beings,” says Shad.
What started as a social media platform grew into a brand, and in 2018, Shad published the book Muslims of the World: Portraits and Stories of Hope, Survival, Loss, and Love. The project also includes a charity organization focused on community-based humanitarian efforts.
“We wanted to clear up stereotypes in a global way, and we decided to do that by creating a physical space,” Shad explains. This led to the idea of opening a coffee shop.
After opening three locations in Indiana, the brand expanded with a fourth shop in Lombard, Illinois, and created a franchise model to continue growing. Today, MOTW Coffee and Pastries has locations across Indiana, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.
The new Plano location will be the largest of the franchise and is owned by franchisees Fahad and Sofie Danish. They have transformed the space with a cozy design, featuring a striking mural of a desert scene on one wall, along with brown leatherette couches and black velour chairs for a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere.
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