Having a business of your own is a dream come true. But, for businesswoman Amy Wright, it is more than just that.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_h-GoKBMzr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Unlike most coffee shops wherein the primary purpose is to earn profits, Amy’s chain of coffee shops serve a bigger purpose than just generating income. To her, the business is also a venue to do something good for the people and giving disabled people a decent shot at a normal life.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CIB2sRbBJqz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
She founded and created Bitty and Beau’s, a coffee shop chain that is also fondly called “The Happiest Place in Wilmington”. Why? Because they are not just catering to the public thru their yummy lattes or invigorating mochas, they also employ people who have intellectual and mental disabilities.
Amy’s staff is composed of mostly mentally and developmentally disabled people. Some of the folks she hired are those with Down Syndrome, some are autistic while there are also employees who have cerebral palsy.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CHvW4UdBtMU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
The place is always filled with smiles and happy conversation, thus earning its reputation of being the happiest place in Wilmington. People are fond of the staff and are overjoyed to be served by such incredible people.
Most of the staff consider their work at Bitty and Beau’s as their first job. They are extremely delighted to be a part of Amy’s amazing team.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CHTc84dh5Fm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Amy and her husband decided to put up a coffee shop after discovering that over 80% of people with mental and developmental disabilities do not have proper jobs. The idea of a coffee shop was the perfect way to offer jobs to these people. They decided to name their business Bitty and Beau’s as inspired by their two children who also have Down Syndrome.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBg7546BXKH/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
“It hit me like a lightning bolt: a coffee shop!” Amy says. “I realized it would be the perfect environment for bringing people together. Seeing the staff taking orders, serving coffee — they’d realize how capable they are.”
The coffee shop started in January 2016 in a 500 square foot space in Wilmington, North Carolina. People instantly loved the coffee shop and eventually gained national media attention.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGNzUb1B5vL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
The popularity of the shop gave way to its relocation half a year later to a newer and bigger space which measures about 5,000 square feet. What used to be 19 employees has grown to a team of 40. With two managers who have a degree in special education, Amy’s team is highly efficient and is no different from their competitors’ service time.
“Our wait time is no longer than any of our competitors. They’ve all gotten really good at their jobs and step up if somebody else needs help.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CIHLJnGhzUW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
In February 2018, the second branch of Bitty and Beau’s was launched and it now employs 80 personnel. Wow!
“Creating this has given people a way to interact with people with disabilities that (they) never had before. This is a safe place where people can test the waters and realize how much more alike we are than different. And that’s what it’s all about,” Amy shares.
Later on, the third location opened in January 2019 located in Savannah, Georgia. The business is unstoppable, which only means more and more disabled people are having a shot at getting a proper job despite their conditions.
Amy’s unwavering effort towards her cause has earned her the 2017 CNN Hero of the Year award wherein she received $100,000 to be used for her advocacy.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqf0GZKBm7I/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Truly, Amy’s vision of getting more businesses to employ disabled people as she did still lives on and she is stopping at nothing to achieve this dream. She hopes that other businesses will follow her steps in giving chances of employment to people with disabilities.
“Our hope is that other businesses will see our success and realize the importance and benefit of hiring people with intellectual disabilities. When other businesses begin to hire people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, this will truly affect the unemployment epidemic.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CIa5db8hPLB/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Know more about Amy Wright’s business and how to contribute to their cause by clicking this link.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
