On a random Tuesday, in desperate search of caffeine and sick of Starbucks sugar shots, I stepped out of the cold and into a random coffee shop on the corner of Fifteenth and Pearl. Not quite sure what to expect, I was welcomed by bubbly music into an open industrial building with spacious, modern seating. I ordered a caramel macchiato from the huge chalkboard menu above the counter and was handed a playing card, an Ace of Spades, that would be called when my order was ready. My cashier’s bright smile was a welcome change from the usual “so-over-it” expressions of many underpaid Starbucks employees.
Card in hand, I curiously wandered around the shop to explore the space, drawn by a large wall reading “our inspiration.” I discovered that the bright, inviting building I was standing in was not simply a cafe, but a “human rights movement disguised as a coffee shop.” Their mission? To create a space where individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities did forward facing work, changing the way society views disabled persons.
The founders, Amy and Ben Wright, were inspired to open Bitty and Beau’s when they learned that 80% of people with intellectual disabilities are unemployed nationwide. So, the Wrights decided to create their own business: an inclusive space where those with disabilities were welcome. The coffee shop is named for two of the Wright children, who were born with Down syndrome.
In 2016, the first Bitty and Beau’s opened in Wilmington, North Carolina. Since then, the business has grown to open twenty locations across twelve states. The small chain is dedicated to building connections with the communities and customers it serves, and with features on The Today Show, CNN, Good Morning America, and more, Bitty and Beau’s impact is being felt worldwide as well as locally.
My Ace of Spades was called, On my cup was a handwritten “Happy holidays!” with a heart and smiley face, a touch of personality that was both Instagram-worthy and made me smile. I later found out these personalized notes are Sharpied onto every drink. While sipping my macchiato, I discovered a giant map inviting customers to leave a pin marking their hometown: pins dotting locations all around the world.
With an emphasis on bringing people together, Bitty and Beau’s provides a welcome contrast to the homogenized chain cafe around nearly every corner. Walking back to BHS with my ice-cold personalized cup in hand, I for once felt prepared for math class by both the caffeine and positive energy of the shop.
