A community-focused specialty coffee franchise is brewing its second Massachusetts location on the South Shore.
Indianapolis-based MOTW Coffee & Pastries is heading to 279 Willard St in Quincy, according to a recent social media announcement from the brand. “BREAKING NEWS!!! It is with great excitement that we announce our next shop coming to Quincy, Massachusetts,” the team shared, adding that the Javid family is bringing MOTW’s mission-driven concept to the area.
In a recent phone interview, Ali Javid told What Now Boston that the brand’s expansion to Quincy was both personal and strategic. Positioned just outside Boston, Quincy offers the right mix of accessibility and community.
“My family and I grew up in Cape Cod, and we found ourselves without any sort of cool hangout spot or coffee around the area,” he said. “Quincy is such a changing community… so we figured it would be the best location for us at the moment.”
MOTW—an acronym for Muslims of the World—originated as an Instagram page founded by Sajjad Shah in 2014, during a time of heightened anti-Muslim sentiment in the U.S. In sharing personal stories and spotlighting shared humanity, the platform quickly gained traction, eventually growing into a global community with more than 670,000 followers.
From there, MOTW evolved into a nonprofit organization, raising millions of dollars for humanitarian efforts worldwide, including funding cataract surgeries, providing medical care, delivering clean drinking water, and supporting disaster relief in countries such as Yemen and Ethiopia. “Basically, we do a lot of community work with those in need,” Ali said.
In 2021, Sajjad and his wife, Fatimah, translated that mission into a physical space, launching the first MOTW café as a place where the community could gather in everyday life. Today, MOTW Coffee & Pastries operates as the brand’s retail arm, with 14 locations and counting, while the broader organization continues its global humanitarian efforts.
The Quincy café is expected to serve MOTW’s signature globally inspired menu, featuring Yemeni chai, Egyptian teas, specialty lattes like Date Cardamom, Spanish, and Pistachio, along with matcha drinks, refreshers, and pastries and light bites such as baklava, empanadas, muffins, milk cakes, and date cookies.
Spanning just under 1,700 square feet, the space will feature both table seating and a lounge-style area with sofas, encouraging guests to stay awhile. Buildout is nearly complete, with final inspections and a certificate of occupancy still pending, said Ali.
Once it opens sometime in the coming weeks, the Quincy location will operate daily and join an existing MOTW outpost in Shrewsbury, which is run by a different franchisee. Looking ahead, the Javid family hopes to continue expanding the brand throughout the state.
