You won’t find any coffee shop more welcoming or warmhearted than Bitty & Beau’s in Wilmington, North Carolina. Founded by owner Amy Wright and her husband, the shop is run by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, in honor of the couple’s two children – Bitty and Beau – who have Down Syndrome. “While Bitty and Beau aren’t looking for jobs right now, ” says Amy, “it’s on our radar. There’s a statistic that somewhere between 70-85% of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are unemployed–and we just think that’s an embarrassment to our country.” The Wilmington community has rallied around this shop, which employees more than forty individuals, and reinforced it as a true gem of Southern pride, culture, warmth, and hospitality. We love what Bitty & Beau’s is doing – and we think you will, too.

http://www.southernliving.com/culture/bitty-and-beaus-coffee-shop-video