Bitty & Beau’s Coffee Shop

Picture this: A small coffee shop in a beach town, opening its doors at 8AM. Soon, the lines are out the door, and the shop is buzzing with noise. This shop is Bitty and Beau’s Coffee, which features an almost entirely intellectually and developmentally disabled crew. Located in Wilmington, North Carolina, this coffee shop is positively affecting everyone involved.

Amy and Ben Wright have four children, and the two youngest, Bitty and Beau, have Down syndrome. As soon as Bitty and Beau were born, Amy and Ben became advocates for acceptance of  people with disabilities. Including people with disabilities in the workforce is not the main focus of many companies; however, after Bitty and Beau’s birth, Ben hired a few people with disabilities to work in his office, while Amy Wright started her charity, Able to Work USA, which places people with disabilities in jobs. Amy quickly realized that the statistics of disabled people without jobs (70%-85%) needed to be changed. Then it clicked.

Beau’s Coffee opened in January 2016, and quickly attracted the attention of the national news, as it had people lined up out the door. Then in July 2016, Beau turned 12, and for his birthday, he wished for his sister’s name to be included in the coffee shop title. Beau’s Coffee was then changed to Bitty & Beau’s Coffee. Quickly after this, the shop needed to expand, so it  moved to a much larger space.

Bitty & Beau’s opened a second location in February 2018 in Charleston, South Carolina. Another shop is scheduled to open in Savannah, Georgia. All profits from Bitty & Beau’s go to Able to Work USA. So, what exactly is the point of Bitty & Beau’s? Bitty and Beau’s provides a job for people with disabilities, which allows them to feel accomplished and a part of the community. This shop encourages inclusion. Most of the employees are competent within their jobs, and wait times are the same as they would be at any other coffee shop.

The workers at Bitty & Beau’s have disabilities such as Down syndrome, autism, and cerebral palsy. For most of the employees, this is their first job. Their jobs’ increase confidence levels and help them feel capable of having a career. Some of the managers at Bitty & Beau’s have degrees in special education, which is beneficial to  the flow of the shop.

This coffee shop is life changing for those who work there, and it is an unforgettable experience to all who buy Bitty and Beau’s coffee.

By McKenna Ching