Megan Selesky

In today’s retail landscape, drive-thru and endcap spaces have become some of the most highly sought-after assets in Southern California. The surge in demand extends beyond national coffee operators, with expanding high-volume food concepts also players in the market.

Makenna Koffee Co., a rising independent coffee brand grounded in hospitality and design, aimed to secure both drive-thru and high-profile endcap spaces in premier trade areas across the region. The challenge was twofold: uncovering entitled or convertible sites before they hit the open market, and positioning an independent operator to compete head-to-head against national and regional brands with significant leverage and deeper pockets.

As Makenna Koffee Co.’s exclusive representative, Westcord Commercial leveraged deep relationships with property owners, brokers, and city planners to identify and secure off-market and pre-market retail opportunities.

When Starbucks began repositioning its portfolio, Westcord moved swiftly- evaluating each vacated or soon-to-be-vacated site and pursuing only the best-positioned locations with strong ingress/egress, daytime population, and visibility metrics.

While many national tenants flooded landlords with proposals, Westcord differentiated Makenna by emphasizing its unique, experience-based model: elevated design, premium finishes, and a hospitality-forward guest interaction that goes beyond convenience.

By pairing local credibility with strategic storytelling and quick execution, Westcord successfully negotiated multiple drive-thru and high-visibility endcap sites ahead of competing brands- positioning Makenna Koffee as the next major independent player in California’s coffee landscape.

Makenna Koffee Co. continues to expand its footprint through a curated portfolio of drive-thru and premier retail locations across Southern California.

Each deal reflects a creative, relationship-driven approach that prioritizes long-term value and brand alignment over speed of growth. By also capturing select former Starbucks and off-market opportunities before competitors, Makenna has built a stronghold in key trade areas, offering consumers a more personalized, high-end alternative to mass-market coffee chains.

With continued growth and a commitment to community connection, design excellence, and authentic hospitality, Makenna Koffee Co. is quickly becoming a household name in the Southern California coffee scene.