Kouign-Amann News

Posh New York bakery-cafe to open at new Dallas Design District center

Coffee and pastries at Maman.

Maman

A French cafe chain from New York that's expanding all over Dallas is bringing its ritzy fare to the Design District: Maman, a celebrated spot with coffee and brand-name pastries, will open a location at The Seam, a mixed-use development at 1444 Oak Lawn Ave.

According to a release, the cafe will open in late 2026 to early 2027, coinciding with the opening of The Seam itself.

Famous for its country-chic blue-and-white toile decor and signature Nutty Chocolate Chip Cookies, Maman was founded in Soho in 2014 by partners Elisa Marshall and Benjamin Sormonte, and has expanded across the U.S, with locations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and Canada.

They made their Texas debut in November 2025 when they opened a location in the Plaza at Preston Center. There are now plans for multiple locations across DFW, including a location in Frisco at the new Fields West mixed-use center; a location in Casa Linda Plaza; and a location at Hillside Village, the centrally situated center at Mockingbird Lane and Abrams Road.

The cafe will be open during daylight hours with coffee, breakfast, and lunch: espresso drinks, tea, and pastries such as croissants, kouign maman, Bundt cakes, tea cakes, and cookies. Heartier breakfast and lunch items include quiche, a breakfast bowl (with potatoes, arugula, bacon, caramelized onions, avocado, and egg), chicken Caesar wrap, and Mediterranean steak sandwich.

Must-order items include the nutty chocolate-chip cookie with dark chocolate chips, walnuts, almonds, and macadamia nuts; kouign-amann, the croissant-like pastry; and the salted caramel pecan pie roll, an item exclusive to Dallas with layers of croissant, caramel, and pecans.

Savory offerings include quiches, salads, sandwiches, and the cheesy brisket croissant roll, another Dallas exclusive, filled with brisket and cheddar.

Developed by Asana Partners, The Seam is undergoing a multi-million-dollar redevelopment that will transform the 160,000-square-foot property into a "lifestyle hub," featuring approximately 45 storefronts encompassing a mix of retail, fashion, design, food & beverage, and wellness concepts.

“We’re excited to welcome Maman to The Seam, introducing a vibrant daytime café that will enhance our shopping experience," says Asana Partners managing director Clare Walsh in a statement. "We envision Maman as the go-to destination where visitors will grab a coffee while running errands or enjoy lunch with friends or clients. With its thoughtfully curated decor and a seasonally inspired menu, maman will bring a distinctive charm that will make it a staple of The Seam."

coffee breakfast desserts openings

Hugs all around

Nonprofit Hugs Café expands with $10M McKinney headquarters and eatery

Photo courtesy of Hugs Cafe

Hugs Cafe has debuted a new cafe in its new McKinney headquarters.

A culinary-centric charity that helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities build careers in hospitality has a snazzy new home in downtown McKinney: Hugs Café Inc. has opened a new $10 million headquarters, eatery, and training center at 221 Andrews St., McKinney.

The 13,500-square-foot facility brings together the organization's administrative offices and Hugs Training Academy under one roof, a release says, creating what it calls a centralized hub to expand workforce training and employment opportunities.

“This new space allows us to grow our programs and serve more individuals than ever before,” says Lauren Smith, CEO at Hugs Café Inc, in the release. “It represents a major step forward in our mission to create meaningful training and employment opportunities. We are deeply grateful for the community support and partnerships that have helped bring this vision to life and continue to make our work possible every day.”

The new HQ is called Home for Hugs.Photo courtesy of Hugs Cafe

Called the Home for Hugs, the building includes a commercial training kitchen, four classrooms, administrative offices, flexible workspaces, a rooftop deck, and an outdoor patio. The facility is designed to increase the organization's training capacity while supporting future expansion of its programs, leadership says.

Hugs Café Inc. is a McKinney-based nonprofit social enterprise that provides hospitality training and competitively paid employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Its flagship venture is Hugs Café, which offers on-the-job experience in an inclusive restaurant environment.

Dining at Hugs Cafe
Founded in 2015 by Ruth Thompson, the organization has grown from a single McKinney café into a network that now includes two café locations (the other's at 2918 Live Oak St. in Dallas), along with two Hugs Training Academies, the new headquarters, and affiliate partners across the country.

The McKinney cafe is open to customers for dine-in and delivery at breakfast and lunch, 8 am-3 pm Monday-Saturday (closed Sunday), with catering available. The menu includes breakfast items such as biscuit sandwiches and breakfast burritos; salads, sandwiches, soups, and desserts.

Sweet treats from Hugs Cafe. Photo courtesy of Hugs Cafe

Sandwiches include grilled cheese, a Monte Cristo, a BLTA with avocado, and a "chickie hug" sandwich with cranberry pecan chicken salad and mixed greens.

Salads include a Greek salad, spinach salad, and a chef's salad with turkey and bacon. Desserts include cookies, carrot cake, and chocolate bourbon pecan pie.

Catering choices vary from sandwich boxed lunches to whole cakes and jumbo quantities of pimento cheese or chicken salad. White Rhino coffee in large quantities is offered, as well.

Building a lasting impact
Construction on the headquarters began in May 2025. Dallas developer KDC led the project, with Corgan serving as architect, Brasfield & Gorrie as general contractor, and Valliance Bank providing financing, according to the release.

“Bringing this vision to life alongside Hugs Café Inc. is a meaningful opportunity for KDC to support individuals seeking personalized training and a pathway into the workforce,” says Eric Hage, KDC president. “We’re grateful to the Hugs Café team and our fellow donors for allowing us to play a role in creating lasting impact for these individuals and their families.”

openings mckinney nonprofits