Update 3/11: This article has been updated to reflect that Moka & Co workers returned to work Wednesday after management agreed to address their demands. Additionally, one source who was previously anonymous is now named in the article, at her request.
The Ann Arbor location of Yemeni coffee chain Moka & Co was unexpectedly closed Tuesday as employees went on strike, forming a picket line outside the business. The striking workers alleged managing partner Ahmed Alrayashi failed to distribute approximately $1,638.86 of the $4045.74 in tips that employees say they were owed between November 2025 and February 2026.
Workers sent a letter to Alrayashi on March 3, giving him a one-week deadline to meet their demands of properly distributing the missing tips and reforming the tipping system to ensure transparency. Alrayashi distributed part of the missing tips before the strike deadline, but left approximately $874 unaccounted for and did not respond to demands for tipping reform. In response, employees conducted a full work stoppage…