West MI Coffee Shop Employing People With Special Needs Sets Opening Date

A non-profit coffee shop that employs individuals with intellectual and developmental delays and other special needs is planning to open in Hudsonville.

Modeled after Brody's Be Cafe in Ada, which opened in 2019, Maggie's Be Cafe will open at 6490 28th Ave in Hudsonville June 14.

Maggie's says they are more than just a place to grab a cup of coffee:

It is acceptance, it is love, it is change, and it is embracing the abilities of an incredible group of human beings. We are built upon the foundation of inclusivity, kindness, and opportunity. Our mission is to offer employment to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a positive and uplifting environment. We curate a workplace environment that bridges the gap between individuals with disabilities and those without, because we are more alike than we are different. As a 501(c)(3), we strive to give our “be-ristas” an opportunity to understand and embrace their value, talents, and importance. It is coffee with a purpose.

Owner Virginia Fischer told WZZM-13 in April,

The idea is to employ people with intellectual and developmental disabilities... It's reaching many people for opportunities they otherwise would not have had.

Fischer's daughter, Maggie, for whom the cafe is named, will be one of those employees.

In addition to coffee drinks, Maggie's will be selling pastries from Stir It Up Bakery, which also employees people with disabilities.

Like their partner, Brody's Be Cafe, Maggie's will also serve coffee brewed by Uncommon Coffee Roasters, based in Saugatuck/ Douglas.

Follow Maggie's Be Cafe on Facebook for updates!