Amy and Ben Wright, entrepreneurs, philanthropists and parents of four, will embark on a new venture Jan. 25, with the opening of Beau’s Coffee.
 
Located at the corner of Wrightsville and South Kerr avenues, the coffee shop will employee about 20 intellectually disabled individuals, along with support staff to help guide the way.
 
Beau’s is named for the Wrights' 11-year-old son. He and younger sister Bitty, 6, both have Down syndrome.
 
“We really wanted to do something that would help make the world a better place for them,” Amy Wright said.
 
Amy is the founder and president of Able to Work USA, a nonprofit organization that works to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) find meaningful work. Ben is the president of Dye Creek Capital, a full-service investment practice with a focus on employing people with IDD.
 
According to Able to Work USA’s website, 85 percent of people with IDD are unemployed.
 
“Given the right support, so many of these individuals are fantastic employees -- very loyal, very dependable and certainly very capable,” Amy Wright said.
 
Beau’s, which will also be classified as a nonprofit, will offer an opportunity for the community to interact with people who are challenged by disabilities, she said.

“We believe in creating experiences where we bring people together and this is really the perfect scenario for that," she said.
 
Beau’s Coffee will offer a full line of coffee drinks with coffee provided by Kaldi Gourmet Coffee Roasters of Wilmington. Fresh baked goods will arrive daily from the bakery at Farmin’ and will include muffins, Danish and cinnamon rolls. Fruit smoothies will also be available.
 
“Originally we planned to only be open until noon,” Amy Wright said. “But the response has been so great before we’ve even opened our doors that we decided to extend the hours and take on additional employees.”
 
Beau’s Coffee is located at 4414 Wrightsville Ave. and will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
 

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