Mokas Coffee & Eatery is preparing for a significant expansion across the Kansas City market and beyond after signing a nine-unit franchise development agreement with Cornerstone Hospitality. Led by entrepreneurs Brice Turner and Jeff Bennett, the agreement calls for six locations across Clay and Jackson Counties on the Missouri side of the Kansas City market, along with three additional units in Derby, Garden City and Manhattan, Kansas. Site selection is underway, with openings targeted for 2027.
The deal gives Mokas a broader presence beyond its existing Kansas footprint while bringing experienced operators into its franchise network. Turner brings nearly two decades of entrepreneurial experience following his U.S. Army service and founded Duty First Holdings in 2010. Bennett brings a background in construction and land development, as well as previous experience operating a multi-unit franchise on the East Coast.
Mokas has built its concept around coffee, breakfast and lunch offerings, with made-to-order food, pastries and beverages prepared for customers throughout the day. The brand also emphasizes a welcoming environment designed to serve as a place where customers can meet, work and connect. Its broader development pipeline includes additional locations in Wichita, Kansas City and other Kansas markets, adding momentum to the company's transition from a primarily corporate footprint toward a larger franchise network.
Community involvement is also part of Cornerstone Hospitality's plans for the new locations. The group intends to work with local charities in the communities it enters and provide a positive workplace for young employees, with integrity, respect, accountability and teamwork identified as guiding principles. That approach gives the expansion a local dimension as the company prepares to establish Mokas in markets where the brand is still relatively new.
As a franchise network grows across multiple markets, comparing performance between locations can become increasingly important for identifying what is working and where operators may need additional support. Gorilla Dash includes Benchmarking tools that allow franchise teams to compare revenue, costs and margins across locations, giving franchisors and franchisees a clearer view of network performance. For a brand such as Mokas, which is adding locations across different markets, that kind of visibility can help turn expansion data into practical decisions while keeping growth aligned with the broader strategy.
