WS Chronicle

TEVIN STINSON 

THE CHRONICLE 

Bitty and Beau’s Coffee will be closing its Winston-Salem location at the end of the month. The coffee shop, located at 411 W. 4th St., employs people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  

The closing was announced via a sign posted on the door of the coffee shop last week. The coffee shop opened in 2022 and at the time they employed 22 people. Last year owners complained that construction at the Stevens Center and construction crews putting up fencing which blocks portions of the sidewalk, led to a decline in business.  

Bitty and Beau’s will close its doors for good on May 27.  

Founded by Amy and Ben Wright, the first Bitty and Beau’s opened in 2016. According to their website, the Wright’s started the business for their two children, Bitty and Beau, who were born with Down syndrome.  

After learning that only 20% of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are employed, the Wrights set out to do something about it. The first coffee shop opened in Wilmington and employed 19 individuals with disabilities.  

Today Bitty & Beau’s Coffee Shop has grown to 18 shops across 11 states with more than 450 employees. Over the years the coffee shop has been featured on The Today Show, Rachael Ray, CNN, Good Morning America, People Magazine and Southern Living Magazine.  

The location on W. 4th Street opened in 2022 and currently employs about 20 people. Last summer it was reported that nearby construction at the Sevens Center for the Performing Arts was causing less customers to come into the coffee shop.  

For safety reasons, construction crews have put up fencing in front of the Steven Center, which is located at 405 W. 4th St. The fencing does block portions of the sidewalk leading to the coffee shop.  

The closing of the Winston-Salem Bitty and Beau’s Coffee Shop adds to a long list of restaurants and coffee shops we’ve seen close recently. Last summer Moji Coffee, which also employed people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, closed its doors due to the lack of sustainable funding.  

This year alone, several restaurants that had grown to become staples in the community have closed their doors, including Sweet Potatoes, the iconic Peanut House, Ichiban Japanese Restaurant, Murphy’s Lunch, and Mike’s Deli to name a few. And Kermit’s Hot Dogs, which has been a staple on the south side of Winston-Salem for over 50 years, may be changing hands soon.  

When restaurants close, it means the jobs and money goes with it. According to the National Restaurant Association, restaurants rank second among private employers in the state and $5.5 billion in total taxes are paid by restaurants in the state. For every dollar spent in North Carolina, restaurants contribute $1.86 to the state economy.