PJ’s Coffee is embarking on another Greater Houston region opening. According to a recently filed Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation permit, the new PJ’s Coffee is expected to open in Rosenberg within the Town Center Village at 5149 Reading Rd.
“We are currently working through the development and construction process, so we don’t want to announce a firm opening date until everything is finalized,” franchisee Gary Riggs told What Now Houston in an interview about the upcoming opening.
“We’ll be excited to share the official date as we get closer.”
The permit further details that the construction project is slated to start at the end of this month and wrap up by the end of October this year. If all goes well with permitting and the estimated 200,00 dollar construction project, the new PJ’s Coffee should open by this fall.
“My wife, Ariel, and I are planning a grand opening celebration, and we want it to reflect both the spirit of PJ’s Coffee and the Rosenberg community,” Riggs said.
“We envision it as more than simply opening our doors — we want it to feel like a community celebration. We have some fun ideas in the works and look forward to sharing more as we get closer.”
PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans was founded in September 1978 by industry pioneer Phyllis Jordan in the Carrollton neighborhood of New Orleans. Named using her initials “PJ,” the brand grew from a single shop on Maple Street into an international franchise known for small-batch roasting and pioneering the cold-drip iced coffee process.
There are now more than 190 PJ’s Coffee locations operating across the country, with more than 300 additional units in various stages of development. The Lone Star State has 24 of those locations, with nine serving the Greater Houston region and its visitors.
“PJ’s immediately resonated with us because of its New Orleans roots. We have strong Louisiana roots ourselves, so there was a natural connection to the culture, hospitality, and sense of community behind the brand,” Riggs said.
“We also saw this as an opportunity to build something meaningful for our family while bringing an experience to Rosenberg that we believe can become part of the fabric of the community. We’re building a business, but we’re also building something we hope our children can watch grow and be proud of.”
PJ’s Coffee’s recent growth focuses heavily on celebrating its deep New Orleans heritage and signature Southern coffee traditions. Ballard Brands is currently at the helm of the brand. What Now also briefly spoke with Ballard Brands CEO Scott Ballard to find out more about expansion plans. Ballard confirmed the upcoming opening, but was unfortunately unable to share further details by the time of this publication.
“Ballard Brands is a privately held hospitality and foodservice company formed by brothers Paul, Steven, and Scott Ballard,” the Ballard Brands website reads.
“After achieving success as franchisees for Smoothie King and PJ’s Coffee in Louisiana, Georgia and North Carolina, the three brothers reunited back in Louisiana to expand their footprint as PJ’s franchisees and open the first WOW Cafe (now WOW American Eats) in 2001.”
Riggs shared that the move to Rosenberg came with careful thought and intention.
“We love the growth happening in the area, but we also love the strong sense of community that already exists here,” Riggs said.
“When we looked at the Reading Road location and the surrounding neighborhoods, schools, businesses, and community organizations, we saw an opportunity to become a true neighborhood coffee shop rather than simply another place to purchase coffee.
We didn’t just choose a location — we chose a community.”
Known for offering a variety of hot, iced, and frozen beverages, PJ’s Coffee takes your morning commute to new heights with its offerings.
“There is so much to enjoy on the PJ’s menu. Of course, the coffee is at the center of the experience, with a variety of hot, iced, and frozen beverages, along with other options for different tastes. And being Louisiana people, we certainly can’t leave out the beignets,” Riggs said.
“One of the things we’re especially excited about is helping customers explore the menu, personalize their favorites, and discover something new.”
PJ’s Coffee is anticipated to open in Rosenberg within the Town Center Village at 5149 Reading Rd later this year.
“We are incredibly excited to become part of the Rosenberg community. We are Louisiana-rooted, community-focused, and we plan to bring that spirit of hospitality with us,” Riggs said.
“We’re coming with a lot of heart, a lot of hospitality — and we’re definitely going to Jazz It Up.”
