On May 8, 2025, construction began at 221 Andrews Street in McKinney on a new $10 million headquarters and training academy for Hugs Café Inc., a nonprofit focused on creating job opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Developed in partnership with KDC and backed by major donors — including H-E-B, Sammons Enterprises Inc., Compatriot Capital, the McKinney Community Development Corporation, the Mabee Foundation and The FS Foundation — the facility is set to expand the organization’s ongoing efforts.
More Than a Café
Since opening its doors in 2015, Hugs Café has offered more than meals, it’s served up dignity, purpose and community. What began as a small café on East Virginia Street grew into a nonprofit social enterprise operating four distinct programs:
- Hugs Café
- Hugs Greenhouse
- Hugs Home Cooking
- Hugs Training Academy
At the heart of all of them is a simple but powerful goal: to provide meaningful training and competitively paid employment for adults with disabilities. Of the organization’s 75 employees, 53 represent the disability community.
“We are thrilled to continue our training and employment success story in McKinney,” Lauren Smith, executive director with Hugs Café, said in an official statement. “This new facility allows us to further address the challenge of high unemployment rates among adults with disabilities who can work and want to work, offering them a path forward and a secure tomorrow.”
What’s Coming
The new two-story, 13,500-square-foot facility, scheduled to open in summer 2026, will serve as the new home for Hugs Café. Features include:
- A state-of-the-art training kitchen and academy
- Four learning classrooms
- Rooftop deck and patio
- Collaborative offices and workspace for staff
Designed by Corgan and built by general contractor Brasfield & Gorrie, the building aims to foster a vibrant learning environment that blends professional training with human connection. Valliance Bank will serve as the strategic financial partner, while KDC leads development.
“Making this vision into a reality for Hugs Café Inc. is an incredible opportunity for KDC to impact the lives of individuals seeking more personalized training to become part of the workforce,” said Eric Hage, KDC president. “We thank the Hugs Café staff and our fellow donors for letting us take part in building a brighter future for these individuals and their families.”
A Vision That Reaches Beyond McKinney
This isn’t just a McKinney story, it’s a national one in the making. Hugs Café Inc. plans to scale its impact over the next five years by:
- Serving 650 individuals
- Establishing 25 nonprofit mentorships
- Creating 10 curriculum licensing partnerships
- Opening three new Hugs Café locations
The next stop: Dallas. Hugs Café Dallas is set to open in Fall 2025, furthering the organization’s reach into urban areas while continuing to mentor similar organizations in places like Fayetteville, Arkansas; Northbrook, Illinois; Ridgeland, Mississippi; and Tallahassee, Florida.
For more information, please visit hugscafe.org.
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