A beloved Memphis coffee concept is getting ready to venture out beyond the city’s borders, bringing its energizing options to a whole new audience. JoJo’s Espresso is preparing to make its DeSoto County debut, with plans to open in Southaven next year.
JoJo’s, capably helmed by Taylor and Hannah Whiddon, broke ground on its newest location on August 3. Co-owner Taylor Whiddon generously set aside some time to speak to What Now Memphis about bringing the small but mighty chain to a new market. “We have eyed Southaven for the last 3 years,” he explains. “We started JoJo’s in 2020 and in 2022 we started as a storefront. Some business partners helped us get Germantown going and they were doing a similar spot in Southaven and said ‘once we get to that point, we’ll talk’. That point came along about a year or so ago and we started researching the area and getting a feel for it.”
JoJo’s will be opening as part of the upcoming DeSoto District mixed-use development. The Whiddons are enthusiastic about joining a young and vital community-one that is just as excited to embrace JoJo’s java. “The development has such a great feel to it, such a vibe and excitement-so to be there next to Silo Square, to bring the JoJo’s experience there, is going to be such a special thing for us. Everyone’s already welcoming us with open arms. It’s a growing community and we want to be a part of it.”
The 2,200 square foot building will have ample space for visitors to enjoy their purchases in an ambient environment. “We wanted to design it to where we have the most seats available.” Whiddon states. “We have a sort of living room section with comfy seats and a homey vibe. The coffee bar will have a sort of distressed look with a natural brick backsplash. We’re expecting to seat between 60 and 75 people-that would be the goal.”
JoJo’s new Southaven home will embrace the aesthetic that has made the chain such a beloved fixture in its two current Germantown locations. Whiddon describes what future regulars can look forward to, saying: “We really have sort of our theme of black and white, wood tone, greenery, a huge focus on lighting-that’s a big focus of mine, to make the lighting stand out, to look sharp. We’ll have music going, some jazz and chill hop, to make it really chill where people can come in, study, have a date.”
The Whiddons plan to scale back the menu a bit, but visitors needn’t worry; JoJo’s will still have plenty of amazing options to choose from. Whiddon describes what’s in store, stating: “We’ll be heavily focused on pastries. Palmer House Bakery will be providing freshly baked treats daily. We’ll have every coffee you can think of, we’ll do cold brew, matcha, teas, specialty drinks…we switch out seasonal menus every season. We’ll do acai bowls-we’re trying to make that part of our identity and who we are, to have healthy options for people.”
The Whiddons plan to maintain the quality and feel they’ve worked hard to establish for JoJo’s in the new Southaven space. Locals will be able to see-and sip-for themselves next year when the cafe opens its doors. Whiddon is hoping to be customer-ready by summer of 2027.
