The Wright family, owners of Bitty & Beau’s Coffee, announced via Facebook on Feb. 23 that they are ready to grow and seeking a second location. Despite earlier thoughts of franchising, the company has come up with a new approach to selecting an additional spot.

Bitty & Beau’s has reached out to its Facebook followers and asked them to help select the location by posting a video or photo expressing why they would like to see a Bitty & Beau’s in their city.

“People sharing our story on social media has been such a big part of our journey,” said co-founder Amy Wright. “So what better way to grow than to include people in that process.”

Wright said that Bitty & Beau’s could work in any community because there is an epidemic of unemployed and underemployed people with intellectual disabilities. That being said, the family felt overwhelmed by the number of options in terms of a second location.

“By involving our supporters in the selection process we can select a location where we feel a true connection to another community,” Wright said. 

Despite a strong response from interested parties when franchise plans were announced, the Wrights determined that this was not the best option for the company.

“Every time a Bitty & Beau’s opens, we want to be sure it’s in the same vein as what we’ve done here,” Wright said. “And with franchising, it would be very difficult to trust that it would be replicated exactly as we would want it to be.”

Wright said that she considers Bitty & Beau’s to be a “human rights movement disguised as a coffee shop.” By keeping future stores company owned, the family can maintain the integrity of their mission. 

The coffee shop celebrated its first anniversary at the end of January. Since first opened its doors on Wrightsville Avenue, the company has grown from 19 employees to 40, and from a 500-square-foot building to 5,000 square feet at 4949 New Centre Drive.

In addition to the coffee shop, Bitty & Beau’s also operates a thriving online business, shipping coffee and merchandise globally. 

A map inside the store is covered in red pins showing where customers are from. There are pins covering every state and post-it notes and business cards from visitors from nearly 50 different countries. 

Wright said numerous customers have told her that their families have planned either entire vacation around the desire to visit Bitty & Beau’s. 

“It’s wonderful to know that we’re connecting with families across the globe and bringing them here to Wilmington,” she said.

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