Las Vegas Family Expands from Coffee to Mediterranean Cuisine

Alchemy Coffee owners open new restaurant So Sofra in Southwest Las Vegas

Jan. 29, 2026 at 11:39am

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A Las Vegas family behind the successful Alchemy Coffee shop is expanding their business with a new Mediterranean restaurant called So Sofra, bringing Balkan-inspired fusion cuisine to the Southwest Valley. The new concept builds on the community support that has helped Alchemy Coffee navigate economic challenges in recent years.

Why it matters

The expansion comes at a time when the local business climate in Las Vegas has grown increasingly complex, with a significant drop in new business openings in recent years. However, the Sopi family is moving forward with cautious optimism, hoping to replicate the welcoming community atmosphere they've cultivated at Alchemy Coffee.

The details

Founder Rita Sopi's heritage and culinary interests inspire each dish at So Sofra, which showcases Mediterranean dishes influenced by Turkish, Greek, and Albanian cuisines. The restaurant is intended to serve as a neighborhood gathering place, much like the welcoming environment at Alchemy Coffee. The expansion is a 'new journey' for the family, who are 'going with it and hoping for the support of the community just like they have been' with Alchemy Coffee.

  • Alchemy Coffee opened two years ago.
  • Clark County business openings have dropped significantly in recent years, from about 11,000 in 2021 to roughly 3,500 in 2024, and just 631 have been recorded so far in 2025.
  • So Sofra is currently undergoing final inspections and is expected to open soon.

The players

Rita Sopi

Founder of Alchemy Coffee and the new Mediterranean restaurant So Sofra.

Alchemy Coffee

A successful coffee shop opened by the Sopi family two years ago in Las Vegas, which has relied heavily on local support to navigate ongoing economic challenges.

So Sofra

The new Mediterranean restaurant being opened by the Sopi family next door to Alchemy Coffee, bringing Balkan-inspired fusion cuisine to the Southwest Valley.

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What they’re saying

“We have been able to get through with the help of the and the support of the community. We have regulars that come in and appreciate the coffee that we provide and the value that they see in it.”

— Rita Sopi, Founder (x1075lasvegas.com)

“I believe that people are leaning more towards helping family-owned businesses and the smaller businesses rather than the chains.”

— Rita Sopi, Founder (x1075lasvegas.com)

“It's a passion. I have a passion for baking, and this was a good opportunity for me.”

— Rita Sopi, Founder (x1075lasvegas.com)

“There's a lot of uncertainty out there, and I don't know what to expect, but it's a new journey. We're going with it and hoping for the support of the community just like they have been.”

— Rita Sopi, Founder (x1075lasvegas.com)

What’s next

So Sofra is currently undergoing final inspections and is expected to open soon.

The takeaway

In an era of economic uncertainty and declining new business openings in Las Vegas, this family-owned business is expanding with cautious optimism, hoping to replicate the welcoming community atmosphere they've cultivated at their successful coffee shop Alchemy Coffee.