PJ’s Espresso is returning to Maple Avenue in Uptown New Orleans, this time with a new location at 7700 Maple St., the previous Starbucks website on the nook of Maple and Adams. Ballard Manufacturers, the New Orleans-based mother or father firm of PJ’s Espresso, has bought the property and plans to open the brand new retailer by fall 2026. The acquisition worth was not disclosed.

The brand new website is down the block from PJ’s former flagship at 7624 Maple St., which operated for practically 50 years earlier than closing in January 2025 amid extended development disruptions on Maple Avenue and within the surrounding space.

“The Maple Avenue neighborhood has all the time been central to our PJ’s story – it’s the place the model started, what impressed our signature Maple Avenue Mix, and the place PJ’s turned a part of the group and, finally, an Uptown New Orleans go-to vacation spot,” stated Ryan Stansbury, government vice chairman of franchise growth for Ballard Manufacturers.

Stansbury added: “Even after we left the unique location, we all the time knew we needed to return to the Carrollton-Uptown neighborhood. When the Starbucks website turned out there, we moved rapidly, because it gave us a possibility to reconnect with the place the model first took root.”

The corporate is within the construction-document section and expects to maneuver subsequent into allowing, bidding, and buildout. “Assuming every little thing stays on observe, we’d count on the brand new Maple Avenue location to open in late August, so fall is a protected goal,” Stansbury stated. “We’ll do a full renovation of the inside and a few exterior enhancements as nicely, whereas reusing as a lot current infrastructure as is sensible. By the point we’re accomplished, it can really feel fully like a PJ’s.”

Based by Phyllis Jordan in 1978, PJ’s is among the metropolis’s unique specialty espresso manufacturers. Jordan bought the enterprise within the early 2000s to Raving Manufacturers, and in 2008 the Ballard brothers — Paul, Steven and Scott — acquired PJ’s Espresso.

At this time, Ballard Manufacturers operates as a privately held, New Orleans-headquartered restaurant, meals, and low firm. Its nationwide portfolio consists of greater than 190 PJ’s Espresso areas throughout 15 states, together with 107 in Louisiana, with 85 within the New Orleans designated market space. The Maple Avenue retailer will change into PJ’s fifth Uptown location.

“We’ve stayed true to our roots by specializing in being a part of the group — a spot to assemble over high quality espresso, meals, and the sort of neighborhood expertise PJ’s was constructed on,” Stansbury stated. “We’ve some thrilling developments within the works, and this location could supply an early have a look at what’s forward for the model.”

The 7700 Maple Avenue property consists of about 1,689 sq. toes of constructing space on a 3,756-square-foot lot, with off-street parking, patio area, and outstanding nook frontage in one in every of Uptown’s busiest industrial corridors. Maple Avenue stays a closely trafficked stretch lined with neighborhood staples, eating places, bars and retailers, and it attracts a gradual mixture of residents, college students, and guests due to its proximity to Tulane and Loyola universities.

The espresso panorama on Maple has shifted since PJ’s left the hall. The Starbucks at 7700 Maple closed in late 2025, whereas French Truck Espresso opened at 7638 Maple final summer time.

“The hall has modified since we had been final open, with French Truck now down the road and a number of other different robust espresso manufacturers within the space,” Stansbury stated. “However we’ve coexisted earlier than, and we imagine a number of manufacturers may be profitable in that market. For us, the larger level is that Maple is the place PJ’s has deep roots, and it was crucial for us to return when the chance offered itself.”