Lease for a Popular Coffee Cafe at Prosper Plaza in Prosper, Texas

By Brent Pennington, CCIM, ALC | Retail Tenant Representation | Metroport Commercial Group, eXp Commercial

Metroport Commercial Group represented Popular coffee cafe in a drive-through cafe lease in Prosper, Texas, covering over 2,000 square feet at Prosper Plaza, 4325 E University Drive, at US 380 and Custer Road. Very few existing buildings could be converted to a cafe with a drive-through, so we built a plan with the shopping center owner that gave an existing tenant time to relocate. The process took close to a year, and the cafe is expected to open in late November 2026.

Deal at a glance

• Tenant: A popular coffee cafe, a regional coffee cafe brand expanding in Dallas-Fort Worth
• Location: Prosper Plaza, 4325 E University Drive (US 380) at Custer Road, Prosper, Texas
• Size: over 2,000 SF
• Representation: tenant representation by Metroport Commercial Group
• Timeline: close to one year from start to completion
• Opening: expected late November 2026

The Situation

The popular coffee cafe is a successful operator with multiple locations around Dallas-Fort Worth, known for great-tasting coffee, lattes, and other drinks. The brand is adding locations, and this site is part of that ongoing expansion. We were tasked with finding multiple sites.

The criteria were specific. The brand wanted strong neighborhood presence and attraction, so the cafe could be a place to meet friends. It also wanted good traffic for drive-through service, so customers on a tight schedule could grab coffee on the go.

The Challenge: Converting an Existing Drive-Through Space

Very few existing locations could be converted to a cafe with a drive-through. The best option we found was space already set up with one, but it was occupied by a tenant who wanted to relocate. That created three requirements:

• Time: the existing tenant needed adequate time to make the transition, so the move could not be rushed.
• Plans: engineering and other plans had to be drafted and approved before the cafe could proceed.
• Brand standard: the space had to be brought up to the coffee cafe’s brand standards.

A deal like this works only if the owner, the existing tenant, and the incoming cafe all benefit from the same plan.

The Strategy: Site Data and a Plan for the Owner

We targeted this location for two reasons: the high level of traffic at the intersection, and the strong neighborhoods around the site that would support a cafe. We then took two tracks:

• Site scoring: we used Intellisite to score the site and analyze the metrics for a successful store.
• Owner discussions: over time, we held several discussions with the shopping center owner and came up with a plan for the coffee cafe to go into the space.
• Center value: the owner was excited to have a well-known and loved brand in the center, and having the coffee cafe there adds value to the rest of the property.
• Transition timing: the plan gave the existing tenant time to relocate while engineering and other plans were drafted and approved.

The whole process took close to a year to execute.

The Location: Prosper Plaza on University Drive

The site sits at University Drive (US 380) and Custer Road in Prosper, Texas. In addition to strong neighborhood traffic, the site will see added traffic where the new 380 bypass intersects the existing 380, which improves east-west mobility. The local market has many new coffee locations, but many of them are drive-through oriented. They do not offer the ambiance of a coffee café at the same level.

Prosper Plaza Overview

• Address: 4325 E University Drive, Prosper, Texas
• Intersection: University Drive (US 380) at Custer Road
• Cafe space: over 2,000 square feet
• Drive-through: the cafe is installing a next-generation drive-through delivery system
• Traffic: added exposure where the new 380 bypass will meets the existing 380 at Custer Road

The Results

• Over 2,000 SF drive-through cafe lease for the popular coffee cafe at Prosper Plaza
• A plan that gave the existing tenant time to relocate
• A well-known, well-loved brand added to the shopping center
• A next-generation drive-through delivery system planned for the cafe
• Opening expected in late November 2026

The result is a new coffee cafe where people can meet friends or get coffee on the go, whatever their schedule needs.

Why This Matters

For Retail Tenants

• Drive-through-ready space is hard to find, so start early and expect the timeline to depend on other tenants
• Use site data to confirm traffic and neighborhood strength before you commit
• Plan for the work needed to bring a second-generation space up to your brand standard

For Landlords and Developers

• A recognized brand can add value to the rest of the center, not only the space it leases
• Giving an existing tenant time to relocate can open a path to a stronger tenant mix
• Drive-through-capable space with strong traffic draws a different tenant pool than standard in-line space

The Takeaway

• When few buildings can be converted to a drive-through cafe, a plan that works for the owner and the existing tenant is what creates the opportunity.
• Traffic and neighborhood strength decide whether a drive-through cafe works, so score both before signing.
• A well-known brand can lift an entire shopping center.
• The new 380 bypass adds traffic to a site that already has strong neighborhoods around it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can an existing drive-through space be converted to a cafe?

Yes, but few existing locations qualify. At Prosper Plaza, the space was set up with a traditional drive-through but occupied by a tenant who wanted to relocate. We built a plan with the shopping center owner that gave the tenant time to move while engineering and other plans were approved.

How long did the Prosper drive-through cafe lease take?

The process took close to a year. The timeline reflects the time the existing tenant needed to relocate, the engineering and other plans that had to be drafted and approved, and the work to bring the space up to the brand’s standard.

Why was University Drive at Custer Road chosen for the popular coffee cafe?

The site has a high level of traffic at the intersection and strong neighborhoods around it. The new 380 bypass will also intersect the existing 380 here, adding traffic and improving east-west mobility.

What data supported the Prosper retail site selection?

We used our model in Intellisite to score the site and analyze the metrics for a successful store, and we targeted the location for its intersection traffic and the nearby neighborhoods that would support the cafe.

Where is the coffee cafe at Prosper Plaza, and when does it open?

Prosper Plaza is at 4325 E University Drive, at US 380 and Custer Road in Prosper, Texas. The cafe space is over 2,000 square feet on the west side of the building, and the opening is expected in late November 2026.

Brent Pennington, CCIM

Advisor, Senior Vice President

Metroport Commercial Group, eXp Commercial

1720 Bray Central Drive, Ste 100, McKinney, TX 75069

Phone: 817-999-8266

Email: brent@metroportcommercial.com