Mohamed Hagi, inspired by a visit to a Yemeni coffee shop in New York, opened Minnesota's first Yemeni coffee shop, Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co., in Little Canada. Hagi's establishment, co-run with his cousin Ibrahim Haji Said, has quickly gained popularity, attracting diverse patrons since its May opening. Growing up in an immigrant Somali-Yemeni household in California, Hagi was deeply connected to the coffee and hospitality culture of that region. Qamaria aims to provide a welcoming space for the Muslim community and others to congregate, socialize, and appreciate Yemeni coffee. The shop, part of a franchise with locations in several states, offers an array of traditional Yemeni beverages and desserts. The success of Qamaria and the upcoming opening of another Yemeni coffee chain, Qahwah House, mark a boom in Yemeni coffee shops in the U.S., reflecting the rich coffee culture of Yemen and the need for non-alcoholic social spaces.
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