Northwest Arkansas has emerged over the past quarter-century as one of the nation’s consistent hot spots for growth. Its status as home to several Fortune 500 firms, led by the big three of Walmart, Tyson Foods and J.B. Hunt, has helped fuel remarkable growth.
From a regional population of roughly 137,000 in 1970, when travelers wishing to visit Fayetteville from points south had to choose from a pair of two-lane, serpentine slithers of asphalt snaking through the rugged Boston Mountains, northwest Arkansas now is home to more than 620,000 people. Projections call for the region to overtake central Arkansas in population by 2050.
Much of the growth has been fueled by Walmart vendors setting up shop in Bentonville — and the addition of a four-lane interstate connecting Fayetteville and Alma did not hurt. Expats from California, the Midwest and beyond have descended on northwest Arkansas in droves, and the cultural amenities necessary to make them feel right at home have followed.
That includes coffee. The region had already launched a challenger to Starbucks in 7 Brew, as well as the renowned Onyx Coffee Lab, and now a relatively new player in town, Dodo Coffee Co., has opened a flagship Fayetteville location off Wedington Drive near the intersection with Interstate 49. Part of what sets Dodo apart is its ownership team includes NFL all-pro receiver Cooper Kupp of the Seattle Seahawks.
Cooper Kupp
Kupp and his wife, Anna, are natives of Washington state, but Anna’s parents, Veronica and Nathan Croskrey, and Anna’s sister and brother-in-law, Sarah and Isaiah Ojeda, live in northwest Arkansas.
Dodo, which was indeed named for the extinct bird, launched in 2024 out of a location on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard near the University of Arkansas campus, but an imminent domain issue forced the founders to give up the location after about a year. However, a customer base had been created, and demand never abated. The popularity of Dodo’s mobile coffee trailer kept the company going.
The recently christened flagship store and roaster, which entails about 700 square feet of dedicated barista space and 1,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor space for customers with two wood-burning fireplaces, is located at 2568 W. McMillan Dr. next to Cross Church.
Opened in late August, its hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Dodo, which prides itself on its Pacific Northwest-style coffee, offers nationwide shipping of its beans, as well as a subscription service called the Flock, which delivers coffee to customers across the region — plus, of course, the region-roaming trailer.
Kupp, meanwhile, is in Seattle preparing to help the Seahawks defend their Super Bowl LX title. Arkansas Money & Politics caught up with the two-time Super Bowl champ, all-pro and NFL Offensive Player of the Year via email to visit about the flagship store.
Dodo Coffee opened its first stand-alone location recently in Fayetteville.
Arkansas Money & Politics: Was northwest Arkansas always a focal point for the launch?
Cooper Kupp: Dodo Coffee Co. had already existed in the NWA ecosystem for over two and a half years in one form or another. We love our community in NWA and always knew we wanted a flagship location where our story began. It has been a labor of love, and we can’t wait to see the ways it will serve our community.
AMP: What distinguishes Dodo in a market that seems to really be growing?
Kupp: The coffee industry is such a fun space to be a part of. It’s truly an industry where uniqueness is celebrated, and we all get to see each brands’ autonomy come to life, while the love of coffee holds us all together. At Dodo, we hold ourselves to an extremely high standard in all that we do. We are intentional about where we are sourcing our beans and approach roasting each lot with a curiosity of how that specific bean will shine best. It allows our community to experience coffee in a way that they may not have before while still being extremely approachable.
AMP: Where are your farmers located?
Kupp: The location of each bean is specified on its product page on our website and on the respective packaging.
AMP: Which is harder — being an NFL receiver or an entrepreneur?
Kupp: Passion is passion. I am fortunate to be able to experience both with amazing people by my side all working towards the same goal.
AMP: Is coffee a business you always wanted to do?
Kupp: My wife and I have always loved coffee. Our college years were fueled by niche coffee roasters in the Pacific Northwest [both attended Eastern Washington University], and that culture has stuck with us.
AMP: Is Dodo the best coffee you have tasted?
Kupp: Undoubtedly. Next question.
AMP: What has been the biggest challenge and biggest reward for you in this endeavor?
Kupp: Losing our initial building to imminent domain and pivoting to operating out of a trailer for a year and a half. It was amazing to watch the growth that was able to happen because of our ability to pivot and the mobility that our trailer gave us.
AMP: What is next for Dodo?
Kupp: Total world domination.
AMP: Will the Seahawks repeat?
Kupp: That’s the goal!
SEE THE FEATURE BELOW AND IN OUR SEPTEMBER 2026 ISSUEE OF AMP
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