Two side-by-side images of the upcoming Haraz Coffee House in Pembroke Pines.
Courtesy of Ahmed Alsaivi
Yemen is known as one of the oldest-known coffee producing regions in the world and is now making its way to Pembroke Pines with a new Yemen-inspired coffee house expected to open in February.
Haraz Coffee House is expected to open its newest location in Pembroke Pines within the next two to three weeks, according to Ahmed Alsaivi, the shop’s franchisee.
The coffee house has a new location application being processed with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation for a storefront at 15811 Pines Blvd., Unit 46 at the Westfork Plaza.
Alsaivi, 24, has served as the franchisee for Broward and Miami for the past 10 months and said the opening timeline depends on the completion of the final inspections and trainings for the staff.
“Haraz is a Yemini coffee shop and the name, Haraz, comes from a mountain in Yemen where the coffee beans are collected,” Alsaivi told the Pembroke Pines News on Feb. 3. “For our teas and for certain desserts, we use specific spices like saffron and jasmine to make it stronger and more authentic.”
Beyond the menu, Alsaivi says he hopes the Pembroke Pines location will become a community-centered space.
“We want the coffee shop to be a place where the community gathers and where people can come to work,” Alsaivi said. “We just want to bring different groups of people to hang out, to have fun. We’re also going to be having different activities like a board game night.”
The shop will also offer extended hours compared to many local cafés. Alsaivi said Haraz plans to stay open until 11 p.m. on weekdays and potentially until 1 a.m. on weekends.
Ahead of the opening, artwork being painted inside the space has already gained attention on social media. Artist Emily Miller, known as @emilymillerarts on Instagram, has shared a series documenting the mural’s progress.
The latest video of the series had garnered around 28,800 likes and 109 comments as of Feb. 3.
Alsaivi says the artist is his sister’s friend.
“We brought her in because we’ve seen the work she’s done,” he said.
Haraz Coffee has 46 locations listed on its website. The company also plans to open a location neat Florida International University in the next six to eight weeks.
Carla Mendez is a Venezuelan-born Miami native who covers the city of Pembroke Pines for the Pembroke Pines News, part of the Miami Herald family. A proud FIU alum, she has reported on immigration, education, and politics. Off the beat, she’s watching films, taking photos, or pretending she’s in a band.
