Alessia Korvessis | The Chronicle
Liberty Center, Kenwood Mall and local movie theaters have long served Mason youth as social hotspots. But the recent rise of sweet treat culture is redefining gathering spaces for teens.
With the growing number of dessert shops around Mason, teens not only find trendy treats but also a shared space for connection. These establishments are more than just stores: they are places where teens can unwind, study and meet up with friends
Yemeni coffee shop and bakery Moka & Co. in West Chester opened this year. Since then, the sweet treat stop has become a frequented hangout spot for Mason High School (MHS) sophomore Rameen Tahir and her friends.
“I love the decorations,” Tahir said. “It’s so fun inside, and they always play such good music. It’s really fun to go there with your friends, especially because it’s a louder cafe, so you can be as loud as you want and talk to your friends.”
Moka & Co. serves many in-demand treats that have gained traction on TikTok, including their fruit-shaped pastries, various coffee flavors and Dubai chocolate-inspired treats. Tahir said she saw Moka & Co.’s desserts online and decided to try them herself, even finding favorites like the white mocha latte and the iced caramel macchiato.
“Their desserts are things that [you’d] see in cafes in New York and Los Angeles, but they bring them here to Ohio,” Tahir said. “[Moka & Co] call them the prettiest sweets in LA, and [the desserts] that you normally wouldn’t get unless you drove really far.”
Tahir said that Moka & Co. motivates her and her friends to complete their work, rewarding themselves with sweet treats. She visits the cafe frequently since it is close to her house.
“We always do our homework together and we like cafe hopping,” Tahir said. “[Moka & Co.] is very different from other places. For example, at Starbucks, I feel like you go in and get your drinks and then you go out. But then with Moka, you get your drinks and you also get to hang out with your friends. It’s just a good atmosphere.”
Those behind the counter have also noticed the shift in teen culture and are even affected by it themselves. MHS junior Paige Amazon works at Jeni’s Ice Cream, known for its unique flavors and accommodating menu.
“I feel like we do a good job of drawing in every crowd,” Amazon said. “There will be a group of teens that will come to hang out, or families or older people who like it. We do get a big crowd because we have a lot of flavors that are gluten-free and dairy-free.”
Jeni’s provides an opportunity for teens to make friends with their co-workers.
“I really like the people,” Amazon. “It’s a good environment, and everyone’s really friendly. We’re supposed to be extra friendly to customers, so that transfers over to your co-workers and everyone’s really nice.”
Artisan bakery Tous les Jours has recently gained more popularity among students in Mason. With its French-Asian atmosphere and desserts, the bakery has been drawing in customers since its opening. MHS sophomore Iman Usmani is one of them.
“Usually, all the cafes I go to only have croissants and basic pastries,” Usmani said. “But [Tous Les Jours] has stuff for when you’re in a sweet mood or salty mood—I love going there. I like their unique drinks because they have tiramisu matcha and a bunch of different things.”
But Usmani does not just love the variety of treats. Tour Les Jours is located in Deerfield Towne Center, a popular spot for teens. Usmani said the bakery’s central location in Mason allows for friendly run-ins with classmates, giving her a chance to connect with others in places separate from school.
“Since Mason as a school is pretty huge, you don’t get to know as many people on a personal basis,” Usmani Said. “By seeing people at Tous les Jours, I get to connect with them in a way I couldn’t because I don’t have classes with them. I just [make] casual conversation with them about what drinks or food they were getting, and I feel like it’s genuine.”
