Co-founder Amy Wright shares how Bitty & Beau's Coffee in Bethlehem is changing the way people see one another. Read on to learn more about their special mission.
Tell us about your journey to launching the first Bitty & Beau's Coffee.
My husband, Ben, and I are the proud parents of four children. Our two youngest children, Bitty and Beau, both have Down syndrome. When we learned that 80 percent of people with disabilities are unemployed in our country, we didn't want our kids to grow up being part of that statistic. We opened the original coffee shop in our hometown of Wilmington, NC, in 2016 and started with 19 employees with disabilities. We now employ over 400 people with disabilities nationwide.
How would you summarize Bitty & Beau's mission?
Our mission is to change the way people see other people.
Bitty & Beau's is a for-profit business and, as such, prides itself on paying employees with disabilities meaningful wages. Tell us about that and how you're helping others see people with disabilities through a new lens.
Historically, people with disabilities have been viewed through the lens of charity. Bitty & Beau's Coffee is a new lens, one that changes the way people see people with disabilities and creates an opportunity for people with disabilities to earn meaningful wages and feel valued.
Describe how Bitty & Beau's has expanded its reach over the years.
To date, we've opened 17 shops across 12 states with another four shops slated to open in 2023, but we're just getting started. We would like to have a presence in every state in the country and, one day, locations across the globe.
What does the Bitty & Beau's team love about being in Bethlehem?
We love being part of the Bethlehem community. It's wonderful to have the local support as well as a constant stream of visitors. Our team is extraordinary and goes above and beyond to make the guest experience memorable.
Tell us about the overall customer experience at the shop!
We make every guest feel like family. From the warm “Welcome to Bitty & Beau's” you'll be greeted with to the spontaneous dance and karaoke parties, a visit to Bitty & Beau's Coffee always leaves you feeling better than you did before. Our products are great, but it's our employees that are the true stars at Bitty & Beau's!
What can readers expect to find on the menu?
We have a robust menu with a variety of hot and cold beverages including lattes, smoothies, hot chocolate, Americanos and frappes. Additionally, we have a variety of pastries—muffins, cookies, brownies, cake pops, Krispy treats and bagels with spreads.
74 W. Broad St., Bethlehem | 484.225.8358 | bittyandbeauscoffee.com
Published as "Get the Goods" in the June 2023 edition of Lehigh Valley Style magazine.
