For those of you that aren’t familiar with the amazing Bitty & Beaus Coffee Shop story, please take a few minutes to watch this video. Amy and Ben Wright started a small coffee shop on the corner of Wrightsville and Kerr Ave here in Wilmington NC less than a year ago. After a few short months, their coffee shop has turned into phenomenon and is rapidly transforming the hearts and minds of people all over the country!

The Wilmington community (and people across the nation) have rallied around this shop, which now employees more than forty individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, in honor of the couple’s two children – Bitty and Beau – who have Down Syndrome. Their story has been featured on dozens of local, regional and national media, including; appearance on The Rachael Ray Show, CNN/HLN, The Harry Show, Good Morning America, People Magazine and Southern Living Magazine, just to name a few!

The original Beau’s Coffee opened January 2016 in a 500 square foot space in Wilmington, NC. The original shop was run by 19 employees with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With over 70% of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) unemployed nationwide, Beau’s Coffee created a path for people with IDD to become more valued, accepted and included in every community. In July 2016, Beau’s Coffee was renamed Bitty & Beau’s Coffee (Beau’s 12th birthday wish was to have his little sister’s name put up in lights, too) and moved to a 5,000 sq/ft building that now serves as both a local coffee house and national headquarters. Bitty & Beau’s Coffee currently employs more than 40 people with IDD.

Learn more about Bitty & Beaus Coffee shop on their website HERE