HOUSTON – Take one step inside Bitty & Beau’s Coffee in Rice Village, and you’ll quickly realize it’s more than just a coffee shop. The goal here is simple: treat everyone with kindness and respect, and greet every customer with a smile.
Jack Krueger, who has Down syndrome and is one of the cashiers, told me he loves working here because they inspire him to do more.
“I love this place so much. It feels like a family to me,” said Jack, who has worked here since the coffee shop’s Rice Village location opened last year.
Porsha, who is also a cashier and barista, told me she believes every day is a blessing.
“I get to be with people who are like me with autism and I love making new friends,” said Porsha, who says she sees beauty in all people.
Bitty & Beau’s was created by Amy and Ben Wright, who wanted their own children to fully understand their value.
“Our two youngest children, Bitty and Beau, both have Down syndrome. Our oldest daughter also is autistic. So three out of the four of our children have disabilities and we knew that when people spent time with them that they started to see people with disabilities differently,” said Wright, who co-founded the business with her husband in 2016.
With 20 locations in 13 states and counting, the aim at Bitty & Beau’s is to promote inclusion in the workplace and change the way the world views people with disabilities.
“We hope that our shops become a place where every customer that walks through the door sees what’s possible and hopefully goes back to their place of work and thinks about hiring someone with a disability,” said Wright.
Watch their entire interview with Houston Life’s Derrick Shore.