In the Penn Daw section of Mount Vernon, there’s a newcomer on the coffee house scene in the shape of PJ’s Coffee, a fixture out of the south that features beignet bites and other specialties straight out of the bayou.
The Alexandria location is locally owned and operated by the husband-and-wife entrepreneurs Ronald and Sofiya Ali Parker. Ronald is an IT Program Manager, and Sofiya is a flight attendant with Delta Airlines. Longtime residents of the Alexandria-Burgundy Village area, the Ali Parkers have always enjoyed spending time in coffee shops — making the decision of owning one a natural next step. With family roots on Sofiya’s side tracing back to Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee, the beverage has long held a meaningful place in their daily lives and family culture.
“The original idea to start this coffee shop came from my sister,” said Ronald. “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. I thought it was a great idea and began exploring franchise opportunities. When we discovered PJ’s, we were drawn to the warm décor, the exceptional coffee and the unique food options — especially the beignets. Once we met the leadership team and learned more about the brand, we were all in.”
The Ali Parkers are pleased to bring PJ’s Coffee to their local community and are committed to supporting it beyond just serving coffee. They plan to partner with nearby schools, community centers, and service organizations to champion youth programs, education and local initiatives.
It’s a good fit in an area that bounced back from a massive fire a few years ago. Located on the ground floor of the 400-unit South Alex apartment complex, the stand-alone café brings a true taste of the French Quarter to Virginia with its signature beignets, small-batch roasted coffee and seasonal sips.
“PJ’s” isn’t named after pajamas, although there may be some customers showing up in their “jammers,” for early morning coffee. This moniker is from founder Phyllis Jordan, a pioneer in the coffee industry that founded PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans in 1978. She demonstrated that better beans, superior roasting techniques and pure passion for the art of coffee-making mattered. In 2008, the company was purchased by New Orleans natives and brothers Paul, Steven, and Scott Ballard. PJ’s Coffee serves a wide variety of hot, iced and frozen coffee beverages using only the best quality Arabica coffee beans, as well as organic tea and fresh breakfast pastries.
PJ’s is located at 6220 N. Kings Hwy. Visit pjscoffee.com.