Lines wrapped around the block in late August as downtown's newest coffee shop, Bitty and Beau’s Coffee, held its grand opening.
While it's no surprise Auburn was buzzing about a new coffee spot, Bitty and Beau’s Coffee is more than that. The brand focuses on the value, inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities.
“It’s a great atmosphere to be in, a beautiful place to be,” said employee Cody Richy.
Commonly considered “a human rights movement disguised as a coffee shop,"as stated in their Instagram bio, Bitty and Beau’s Coffee includes employees that have intellectual disabilities and offers them the opportunity to excel in a work environment.
“I was working at the grand opening and it was actually very fun,” Richy said. “My parents came up for it and were supporting it.”
The Bitty and Beau's grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony, which took place on August 20, had around 100 people attending, and each employee was introduced to the customers.
“I love being here and being surrounded by a bunch of friends,” Richy said. “We act like family and it’s a great atmosphere to work for.”
Bitty and Beau’s strives to have a welcoming environment, and the employees create good relationships with their customers.
“When I got the job, my parents were just so supportive and so proud of me,” Richy said. This past summer, Bitty and Beau’s Coffee surprised the new employees with balloons and an offer to work at the coffee shop in the fall.
The cafe sells food and drinks, including smoothies, frappes, smoothies, bagels, muffins and coffee. The shops can be found in twenty three different locations around the United States, and has over 200 employees.
Amy Right is the founder of Bitty and Beau’s and launched the first store in Wilmington, North Carolina in 2016. Right has four children, three of them with disabilities. The cafe is named after her twin children, Bitty and Beau, who both have down syndrome. Right wanted her children to still be able to find jobs when they grow older, and this dream inspired her to open up the coffee shop.
The North Carolina-based company aims to promote the value of people and to make the world a better place for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Positions for jobs include being a cashier, greeter, drink maker and others.
“I’ve gained a lot of knowledge being here and being able to know a lot of people,” Richy said. The cafe gives people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to learn, grow, meet new people and create new experiences within Auburn.
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