Local business owners Michael Mendoza and Wayne Martin have a new “dope” venture on the way to Rock Hill. The duo, who also own Red Wolf Martial Arts, are opening Most Dope Coffee Co. in The Power House building at 378 Technology Center Way, Suite 103.
Most Dope aims to bring new flavor to the coffee scene in Rock Hill, offering classic espresso beverages alongside Filipino-inspired signature drinks. Mendoza told What Now Charlotte that he and Martin wanted to fill a void in the market for a unique coffee spot.
“Representing the Filipino culture and giving the residents in the area access to things they normally wouldn’t have access to was really important for us,” Mendoza said.
The spot will offer signature drinks like Filipino sweet tea, with ingredients such as Filipino fruit calamansi, as well as ube-flavored beverages. The majority of the coffee beans used at Most Dope will be sourced from the Philippines.
The space is designed to be cool and artistic, offering an ideal spot for local events. Most Dope is a nod to Mendoza and Martin’s roots growing up in the 1980s and ’90s, influenced by hip-hop culture.
“For us, dope is cool. It’s awesome. That’s the word we use,” Mendoza said. “It’s to the point, it’s unique and it cuts through all the white noise.”
The team hopes to open by March, bringing a new hub to Rock Hill.
“We already have a martial arts gym that’s part of the community, and for us, community is everything. When you think about a coffee shop in general, it’s a place where everyone wants to just be. Whether that’s drinking coffee, tea or whatever, you just want to be at that place because it’s a safe space,” Martin said. “What we’re trying to bring to Rock Hill is that energy that everyone is welcome and sharing where we’re from and what we’re about.”
