BUSINESS

New Athens coffee shop offers unique social opportunity for staff and guests

Athens Banner-Herald

Sam Langhorne, left, Caroline Herrin and Chris Williams stand for a portrait at Bitty & Beau's Coffee on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021 in Athens. Bitty & Beau’s Coffee is a franchise, with locations in multiple states, employing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Athens location held its grand opening earlier in September and currently provides employment for 23 people.

After a hiring fair at the Classic Center over the summer, the Athens location for Bitty & Beau's Coffee held its grand opening on Sept. 11 at 1540 S. Lumpkin St., and business has been steady according to company co-founder Amy Wright.

The ceremony happened to fall on the day the University of Georgia played against the UAB, which meant that the Bitty and Beau's staff greeted downtown football fans before and after the game.

"There was a line out the door all day," said Wright, who was on hand for the opening with her children Bitty and Beau, for whom the company is named. "It was very theatrical. Each staff member was introduced in front of the shop, and the crowd really went wild."

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Luke Naeher serves a customer at Bitty & Beau's Coffee on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021 in Athens. Bitty & Beau’s Coffee employs people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Athens location held its grand-opening earlier in September and currently provides employment for 23 people.

Wright told the Banner-Herald that more than 20 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) were hired for the Athens franchise, which is owned by Diana and Mike Langhorne.

Training for the Athens staff took place a week before opening day and was conducted by the Bitty & Beau's corporate team. Wright said that free drinks were sometimes given out to locals who knocked on the door and expressed excitement about the shop.

According to Wright, the UGA student population has comprised the majority of the Bitty & Beau's regular customer base so far, and the free Wi-Fi and phone charging docks have made the shop a place for meeting and studying.

Finn Hocking prepares an order at Bitty & Beau's Coffee on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021 in Athens. Bitty & Beau’s Coffee is a franchise, with locations in multiple states, employing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Athens location held its grand-opening earlier in September and currently provides employment for 23 people.

Victoria Cooper, host of Athens-based podcast Little Decisions, told the Banner-Herald that the staff wrote "Be Kind" on her cup without knowing that acts of kindness are the subject of her show her show.

"With smiles on their faces and purpose in their hearts, they provided fabulous coffee and great company," said Cooper.

Due to their public visibility and daily social interaction, Bitty & Beau's staff members tend to become local celebrities, Wright said. "It's transformative for our employees and their families to get that kind of recognition that they deserve."

Bitty & Beau's was founded in January 2016 by Wright and her husband, Ben, who live in Wilmington, N.C.. The company currently boasts 26 locations across the United States, including one in Savannah that opened in 2019.