Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A Bridgewater cafe has a fully inclusive work staff, serving up smiles with their coffees.
The Boundless Bean sets aside a minimum of 25% of its shifts for people with disabilities.
The shop first opened in May 2023. Elena Hogan, the owner of the shop, said getting anyone who wants to work a shift has been a long-term objective for the coffee shop.
“This was always the goal, just kind of working together and being in community, and creating an environment where individuals with differing abilities can thrive,” said Hogan.
She tries to make an opportunity for everyone at the Boundless Bean, with jobs that can pair with any skill level.
“We have one employee who comes and he works one hour, twice a week, and he folds our towels, folds our boxes, and folds our t-shirts — he likes to fold!” said Hogan.
Hogan said many people with disabilities can struggle to find and hold down jobs, mainly due to employers refusing to take the time to understand them.
“It’s really sad to hear, because they’re absolutely our best employees and our hardest workers,” said Hogan.
The idea is to give people with disabilities a job and provide a community. While the building isn’t big enough to employ everyone she’d like, Hogan says an expansion is in the works.
“We would like a couple more stores. We are working on a nonprofit extension of this, and I think… As far as the number of job opportunities that I envision, that’s where we can really, really help our community the most,” said Hogan.
Hogan said it wasn't easy starting out, as she had never owned a coffee shop before, and at first found herself struggling to help her employees. She found helping the neurotypical workers understand the neurodivergent ones was actually one of the hardest tasks.
Hogan’s husband, Tommy, said he’s learned a lot from helping his wife run the shop.
“I had no idea, how it would impact me just personally,” said Tommy. “It just speaks to the difference that this place, where maybe other coffee shops are ‘how many drinks can we get out in an hour?’ Where this is more about an experience.”
WBZ NewsRadio’s Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.