Meet Susan Shihab | Co-founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Susan Shihab and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Susan, how does your business help the community?
Firstly, we prioritized sourcing our coffee beans from Yemen. Supporting this farming community aids in the resurgence of coffee farms across land known to be the originators of coffee. Secondly, we created a unique space that serves as learning hub that highlights the Yemeni culture and community through drinks, snacks, music, design and, most importantly, experience. Lastly, the coffee shop has become a space that members of the DFW community can enjoy to spend time with loved ones, to study, or simply as an oasis to escape to.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Arwa Yemeni Coffee brings an experience of culture with each cup we serve. After years of planning and analyzing this special project, the four founders decided to embark on this journey and what a wonderful journey it has been. It has allowed us to challenge ourselves and take every challenge as an opportunity to enhance and reach our desired goal of bringing a peice of Yemen to the DFW. A project intended to be delivered with meaning, relevance and purpose is never an easy concept. Arwa Yemeni Coffee is not your typical coffee shop. Every inch of the shop was purposefully created with Yemen in mind. The shop speaks to the rich history of the country, the first cultivators of coffee. It depicts the uniqueness of the Yemeni architecture, it’s people and its traditions.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Our go-to spots are the Bishop Arts District and the Dallas Farmers Market. Both places allow for visitors to have so many diverse experiences in a single place- food, shopping, and culture! There’s something enjoyable for anyone and everyone. Experiencing so much while on foot is an added bonus!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Honestly, we have two major people to shoutout. Our first shoutout is to the community! Arwa Yemeni Coffee was the first concept of its kind in the south. And honestly, we weren’t sure how it would be received. We are humbled by the support and excitement the community has brought it. Our cusotmers are truly who make the coffee shop what it is.

And our second shoutout is to our mothers! Growing up, it was through our mothers that we first learned how much coffee was engrained in our culture. Coffee was made multiple times a day in our households. It’s the central point for conversation with family and friends. Through coffee, we learn cultural recipes passed down generation to generation. Our mothers sparked our love for, not just, coffee, but the culture behind it.

Website: www.arwayemenicoffee.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/arwayemenicoffee

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArwaYemeniCoffee/

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@arwayemenicoffee