Mokas Coffee & Eatery is accelerating its expansion across the Kansas City region after signing a nine-unit franchise development agreement covering both sides of the Kansas-Missouri border.
The agreement with Cornerstone Hospitality, led by entrepreneurs Brice Turner and Jeff Bennett, calls for six Mokas locations in Clay and Jackson counties in Missouri, along with three additional restaurants in Derby, Garden City and Manhattan, Kansas. Site selection is underway, with the first openings targeted for 2027.
The deal strengthens Mokas’ growing presence in the Kansas City market and gives the brand a significant new development pipeline as it expands beyond its Kansas roots.
Mokas entered the Kansas City area this year with its first location at 11814 S. Fellows St. in Olathe. That restaurant is being developed by Christian Coleman, owner of Midwest Restaurant Group and the brand’s first franchisee. Coleman holds development rights covering Johnson, Douglas and Shawnee counties and plans to build six locations across those markets by 2032.
The new Cornerstone agreement adds a substantial Missouri development territory while also extending Mokas’ footprint into three more Kansas communities.
Turner and Bennett bring complementary business and development experience to the partnership. Turner, a U.S. Army veteran, founded Duty First Holdings in 2010 and has built a portfolio spanning manufacturing, automotive, commercial property and other businesses. Bennett has experience in construction and land development and previously launched and operated a multi-unit franchise business on the East Coast.
The partners said their decision to join Mokas was driven by the brand’s combination of coffee, food and community-focused positioning. “Our family enjoys Mokas, and it’s great for connecting with others,” Turner said. “Before even considering franchising, I was impressed with the food selection and quality that makes Mokas much more than just another coffee shop, as well as the diverse demographic that enjoys the brand.”
Bennett said the concept’s broader offering was another attraction. “Mokas is a unique blend of quality drinks and food that you don’t see elsewhere in the marketplace, and post-COVID, people are looking for gathering spaces again,” he said.
Unlike a traditional coffee-only concept, Mokas operates as an all-day coffee and eatery business. Its menu includes specialty coffee, smoothies, energy drinks, pastries, breakfast and lunch wraps, sandwiches, soups and salads. Locations can combine dine-in and drive-thru service, while catering and delivery provide additional revenue channels.
The company began in Salina, Kansas, in 2005 and marked its 20th anniversary in 2025. It adopted the Mokas Coffee & Eatery name in 2024 as the business broadened its food offering. The company also brought coffee roasting in-house in 2022, giving it greater control over its coffee programme and product quality.
Mokas operates under JRI Hospitality, the Salina-based restaurant group led by Jason Ingermanson. JRI has grown to more than 145 restaurants across 18 states and is also the largest franchisee of Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, operating more than 130 Freddy’s locations.
That restaurant experience is now supporting Mokas’ transition into a larger franchise network. The brand currently has five corporate locations and additional units under development in markets including Wichita and Kansas City.
JRI Hospitality CEO and Mokas Coffee & Eatery President Jason Ingermanson said Turner and Bennett’s experience made them a strong fit for the expansion. “Brice and Jeff’s backgrounds and combined entrepreneurial experiences make them exactly the kind of franchise partner we look for,” Ingermanson said. “They understand what it takes to build something meaningful in a community, and that’s exactly the spirit Mokas was built on.”
The Kansas City agreement comes as Mokas continues building its corporate and franchise pipeline. The company opened a third Wichita location in April 2026 and has a fourth Wichita restaurant planned for 2027, while Kansas City and other U.S. markets remain part of its longer-term expansion strategy.
For Cornerstone Hospitality, the development plan also has a community focus. Turner and Bennett said they aim to create employment opportunities for young people, build workplaces around integrity, respect and teamwork, and support local charitable organisations in the communities where they operate.
With nine restaurants now committed across the Kansas City area and three additional Kansas markets, Mokas is using franchising to move from a primarily Kansas-based operation toward a broader regional footprint. The first Cornerstone locations are expected to begin opening in 2027.
