Hugs Café Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing job training and employment opportunities for adults with disabilities, inaugurated its new headquarters in McKinney on July 2. The facility, which cost $10 million, is a two-story building spanning 13,500 square feet and consolidates the nonprofit's café, hospitality training academy, and administrative offices into one location.
Situated at 221 Andrews St. in downtown McKinney, the new headquarters features a training kitchen, four classrooms, a rooftop deck, and an outdoor patio. This expansion significantly enhances Hugs' capacity to train individuals, allowing the organization to serve up to 12 participants per class, doubling its previous capacity of six. Founder and CEO Ruth Thompson noted that the facility can accommodate as many as 32 trainees during each 12-week semester.
To support the development of this project, the McKinney Community Development Corp. provided $970,000 for necessary infrastructure improvements. The construction, which began in May, was managed by KDC, with architectural design by Corgan and Brasfield & Gorrie serving as the contractor. This new facility is expected to play a crucial role in preparing adults with disabilities for careers in the hospitality sector, thereby contributing to their employment opportunities in the community.
