Coffee shop employing people with intellectual, developmental disabilities opening in Homewood

Coffee shop employing people with intellectual, developmental disabilities opening in Homewood

A North Carolina-based coffee chain which employs people with intellectual and developmental disabilities will open its second location in Alabama this coming weekend in Homewood.

Bitty & Beau’s Coffee will open Saturday at 10 a.m. at 1625 Oxmoor Rd. in Homewood.

It will be the chain’s 18th roastery. There is a location in Auburn.

The company, founded in 2016 in Wilmington, N.C., is the brainchild of a couple, Amy and Ben Wright. The store takes its name from their two children diagnosed with Down syndrome.

Co-founder Amy Wright said 80% of people with disabilities don’t have jobs. Part of the company’s mission is to show customers all that is possible.

“Bitty & Beau’s Coffee has created a path for people with disabilities to become valued, accepted and included in every community – we’ve said it from the start – it’s more than just a cup of coffee,” Wright said.

The chain offers various flavors of hot and cold brew coffee, smoothies, and other drinks.

Bitty & Beau’s recently shared a video of its hiring process in Homewood.