Haraz to open more Charlotte locations as Yemeni coffee craze continues
The cafe chain that awakened Charlotte's taste for Yemeni coffee is expanding, with new locations planned from South End to Concord.
Why it matters: Charlotte's first Yemeni-style coffee shop, Haraz, quickly became a local favorite after opening in Plaza Midwood in December 2023. For months, lines of customers craving the culture's distinctive, rich flavor stretched out the door.
Just over a year later, the franchisees are already planning multiple new locations to respond to the demand for Middle Eastern coffee elsewhere in the city.
The latest: Owner Abdullah Saleh and his brothers — Mohamed, Saeed and Hamed — will open another location at the South & Hollis apartments in Lower South End, likely in mid-April. At 3,100 square feet, this cafe will be more than twice the size of the Central Avenue spot and offer more seating.
Their Concord location, at a to-be-announced address, is expected to open by late summer. Each shop will have its distinct character and nods to Yemeni culture, Saleh tells Axios.
Meanwhile, a separate owner, Raad Al-sharee, is building a Haraz location at Verde at McCullough Station in University City. He expects construction to finish inside the nearly 2,700-square-foot space this summer.
"I thought that would be a perfect spot for it, especially with the university, to serve all the communities," Al-sharee says.
What they're saying: Saleh attributes Haraz's success to young people's desire for places to hang out besides bars. The shop stays open late and sees decent foot traffic at night.
As Muslims, Saleh and his family don't drink alcohol. "Our way to socialize is to drink coffee and tea — whether early in the mornings or late at night. We wanted to bring some of that here to Charlotte."
The Haraz brand seemed like it would perform well in Charlotte, Saleh says, given the city's diversity and sense of community.
The business has drawn patrons from all backgrounds, not just the Middle Eastern population, Saleh says.
Zoom out: Since Haraz's arrival, other Middle Eastern coffee shops are popping up, too.
Qahwah House opened nearby on Pecan Avenue in December 2024.
Bayt Almocha will open in Centro NoDa, the Charlotte Observer reported.
Context: All three chains originated out of Dearborn, Michigan — an area with a majority Arab population.
Saleh relocated to Charlotte from Michigan in 2021, but he and his family are originally from Aden, the southernmost city in Yemen. Saleh hopes to shed light on Yemen's coffee history.
Zoom out: Haraz is growing in other cities, too. The brand has 17 cafes across multiple states, according to its website, and more than 125 locations in the making.
What to try: The Pistachio Latte ($8.74) is Haraz's top seller. For a more traditional order, go with the Adeni/Karak Chai ($6.13).
Stop by: Haraz is at 1204 Central Ave, next to Kouture Nail Bar.
Open Monday-Thursday 6am-11pm, Friday 6am-1am, Saturday 7am-1am and Sunday 7am-11pm
Go deeper: The 34 best coffee shops for working remotely in Charlotte
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