Hugs Café Inc. has officially opened its new headquarters in McKinney, Texas, with a grand opening held on July 2. This two-story facility, which spans 13,500 square feet, aims to improve job training and employment opportunities for adults with disabilities in the hospitality sector.
Located at 221 Andrews St. in downtown McKinney, the new headquarters consolidates Hugs Café's café, hospitality training academy, and administrative offices into one location. The facility includes a training kitchen, four classrooms, a rooftop deck, and an outdoor patio, designed to enhance the training experience.
The new building significantly increases the organization's capacity, allowing it to double the number of trainees from six to twelve per class. Founder and CEO Ruth Thompson noted that the new setup enables the organization to train up to 32 individuals during each 12-week semester.
Funding for the project included a contribution of $970,000 from the McKinney Community Development Corp. The construction, which began in May, was managed by developer KDC, with architectural design by Corgan and contracting by Brasfield & Gorrie. This investment reflects a commitment to expanding employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities in North Texas.
