Guest blog post from my friend Joanne’s friend, Mary Ann Miller:
I just visited my sixth Bitty and Beau’s! Joanne and I were coming back from a fabulous week at a watercolor workshop in the North Carolina mountains, and I had to stop in Columbia for this.
Bitty and Beau’s is in their words “a human rights movement disguised as a coffee shop.” It was the brainchild of Amy and Ben Wright of Wilmington, NC, who have two children who were born with Down syndrome, Bitty and Beau. They decided to create a place where people with disabilities are valued & given opportunity for meaningful work and opened the first Bitty and Beau’s coffee shop in 2016 in Wilmington. It employed 19 individuals with disabilities. Now, March of 2025 it has grown to 18 shops across 11 states with 400+ employees.
When B&B first opened in Jacksonville, Florida in 2022, I was drawn to it because I had had a precious daughter with Down syndrome. She worked at McDonald’s for many years, and she would have loved working in this wonderful coffee shop. A small journal was on the counter among other B&B merchandise for sale, and as I am an artist and a bookbinder, I bought one with the goal of sketching each Bitty and Beau’s across the country. I replaced the lined paper with plain paper, bought a sticker for the first page and began. I Have sketched all the shops on the southeast coast – Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina- and hope to get to Alabama and Tennessee before long.
If you are anywhere near a Bitty and Beau’s do visit, have a cuppa and enjoy the place. If not, look for them on the internet or while traveling, and maybe one will open in your town soon. It’s a worthy endeavor.
Photos from my sketchbook enclosed.
–Mary Ann Miller
Mary Ann and her daughter Kelley
————————————————————
Added to Mary Ann Miller’s guest blog by Ruth in Pittsburgh from my visit to the Pittsburgh location March 28, 2025
Joanne and Mary Ann were in their location in North Carolina while I was in the Pittsburgh location at the same time of the very same day.
Alicia and I used to work together in the city a decade ago. She invited me to come to knitting group at 11:00 am Saturday. It’s just an hour’s drive to Toronto.
Toronto, Ohio that is.
The makers meet on the first Saturday of the month. We were meeting at Tri B’s Coffee Shop where she put two tables together and everyone was so welcoming. I took my handknit Emotional Support Chicken in a basket. And a pair of socks to knit on as we gathered round. Got to see what everyone was working on- slippers, a Christmas stocking, a hat, a colorful washcloth. A crocheter or two in the crowd.
It was such a happy afternoon. The coffee was delicious, too. Knitting, conversation, inspiration. Thanks for inviting me.
Meet Abigail. Owner of Tri B’s Coffee ShopTri B’s Coffee Shop 241 North 4th Street Toronto, OH 43964A peanut butter and jelly latte. I did not taste my friend’s order but had to photograph it Knitting Meet up First Saturdays at 11 I had a plain latte and a warmed cinnamon rollAlicia on the right. Pronounced “Lish”Vintage tablecloth Here is some of the Bric-a-brac for saleThe Patio awaits warmer weatherNight Depository Have chicken will travel Down the street where I had parked
Early Sunday morning, Steve and I drove Mary to the train station. Our holiday travel together came to a close and she headed back to the city. New York, that is.
On the way home we stopped byLa Prima Espresso in the Strip District on 21st Street. I waited in the car, anticipating that first sip. I photographed Steve carrying the coffee, as he exited the shop and posted the pic in an Instagram story, tagging La Prima.
Later in the day I received a message asking if they could use the photo and I agreed. Complimented that my photo evoked an “ Edward Hopper vibe” wow-
So today I received a delicious pound of Coffee and a souvenir mug as a thank you. That was really nice of you. Thank you La Prima Espresso.
