Mokas Coffee & Eatery 2025 press photo.
Salina, Kansas-born cafe chain and roasting company Mokas Coffee & Eatery has signed a nine-unit franchise development agreement with a new business entity called Cornerstone Hospitality.
The deal includes six planned stores in Clay and Jackson counties on the Missouri side of the Kansas City market, plus three additional Kansas stores in Derby, Garden City and Manhattan. Site selection is underway, according to an announcement from Mokas.
Founded in Salina, Kansas in 2005, Mokas has evolved from a single coffee shop into a coffee-and-food chain. The company rebranded from Mokas Coffee to Mokas Coffee & Eatery in 2024. The brand is part of JRI Hospitality, the Salina-based restaurant and hospitality group led by Jason Ingermanson. JRI says it operates across 18 states and is the largest franchisee of Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers.
Cornerstone, the new Mokas franchisee, is led by entrepreneurs Brice Turner and Jeff Bennett. Turner, a U.S. Army veteran, founded investment company Duty First Holdings in 2010, while Bennett brings experience in construction, land development and multi-unit franchise operations, according to Mokas.
The new deal follows Mokas’ first franchise agreement, announced last year, with entrepreneur Christian Coleman for six units in Johnson, Douglas and Shawnee counties in Kansas.
Mokas said it currently has five company-owned shops in Kansas, while its public location page lists two additional open Mokas locations in Arizona. A first franchised shop in Olathe, Kansas, is also listed as coming soon. Combined with last year’s six-unit franchise agreement, the new nine-unit agreement brings Mokas’ announced franchise development count to 15 locations.
The new agreement comes amid widening regional expansion among coffee and cafe chains, often through franchise or area-development deals. DCN recently reported on Black Sheep Coffee’s 20-unit North Texas franchise agreement and Scooter’s Coffee’s 31-location franchise deal.
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