PJ's Coffee
Encyclopedia
PJ's Coffee of New Orleans is a chain of retail coffeehouses founded in September 1978 by Phyllis Jordan (thus the initials "PJ").
PJ's spread throughout the Greater New Orleans Area with company-owned outlets. Its first franchise, in Mandeville, Louisiana
, in 1989, was successively followed by franchises in Hammond, Louisiana
, and Picayune, Mississippi
. PJ's then expanded across the Southeast
and to other parts of the United States
including California
.
Jordan sold the company to an investment group based in Atlanta
, but in 2008 PJ's was acquired again by owners in New Orleans. In its aggressive courting of potential franchisees, the closely held company offers a training program for potential and current restaurateur
s. PJ's brand of coffee is also available in selected supermarkets.
PJ's has been cited for its customer loyalty and mentioned as a challenger to Starbucks
, with which PJ's has a comparable menu
. In 2004 PJ's announced an ambition to compete head-to-head with Starbucks on a national basis.
In 2009, PJ's was named the "preferred coffee" of the New Orleans Saints
.
PJ's spread throughout the Greater New Orleans Area with company-owned outlets. Its first franchise, in Mandeville, Louisiana
Mandeville, Louisiana
Mandeville is a city in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 12,421 in 2008. Mandeville is located on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain, south of Interstate 12. It is across the lake from the city of New Orleans and its southshore suburbs...
, in 1989, was successively followed by franchises in Hammond, Louisiana
Hammond, Louisiana
Hammond is the largest city in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 20,049 at the 2009 census. It is home to Southeastern Louisiana University...
, and Picayune, Mississippi
Picayune, Mississippi
Picayune is the largest city in Pearl River County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 10,878 at the 2010 census. Located approximately from New Orleans, Hattiesburg, and Gulfport/Biloxi...
. PJ's then expanded across the Southeast
Southeastern United States
The Southeastern United States, colloquially referred to as the Southeast, is the eastern portion of the Southern United States. It is one of the most populous regions in the United States of America....
and to other parts of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
including California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
.
Jordan sold the company to an investment group based in Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, but in 2008 PJ's was acquired again by owners in New Orleans. In its aggressive courting of potential franchisees, the closely held company offers a training program for potential and current restaurateur
Restaurateur
A restaurateur is a person who opens and runs restaurants professionally. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who owns a restaurant, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of the restaurant business.-Etymology:The word...
s. PJ's brand of coffee is also available in selected supermarkets.
PJ's has been cited for its customer loyalty and mentioned as a challenger to Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
, with which PJ's has a comparable menu
Menu
In a restaurant, a menu is a presentation of food and beverage offerings. A menu may be a la carte – which guests use to choose from a list of options – or table d'hôte, in which case a pre-established sequence of courses is served....
. In 2004 PJ's announced an ambition to compete head-to-head with Starbucks on a national basis.
In 2009, PJ's was named the "preferred coffee" of the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
.