There’s officially a new coffee shop in the Alexandria area.
The ribbon was cut at a new PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans franchise at 6220 N. Kings Highway, Alexandria (Fairfax County) on Saturday, Sept. 27. On hand at the event were owners Ron and Sofiya Parker, the family, Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk, and Chamber ALX CEO Joe Haggerty. The coffee shop officially opened in July.
This is the first Virginia location for the franchise, which has nearly 200 locations nationwide. The business was founded in 1978 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and specializes in small-batch roasting.
As previously reported, Ronald and Sofiya Ali Parker are longtime residents of the Burgundy Village area. Ronald works as an IT Program Manager, while Sofiya is a Delta Airlines flight attendant. The couple’s connection to coffee runs deep – Sofiya’s family roots trace back to Ethiopia, widely considered the birthplace of coffee.
“The original idea to start this coffee shop came from my sister,” Ronald said. “I’ve spent countless hours in coffee shops over the years, and one day she suggested I open a store and let her run it. When we discovered PJ’s, we were drawn to the warm décor, the exceptional coffee, and the unique food options — especially the beignets.”
The coffee shop is open seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
