Ethan & the Bean: Where Hope Is Always Brewing

By
JerseyBites
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Looking through Window of Ethan & The Bean
 

Despite what small businesses have been through in recent months, Ethan & the Bean remains open, spreading joy and creating employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

Ethan & the Bean exterior
Ethan & the Bean exterior

The Little Falls, NJ, coffee shop opened in November of 2019 with the goal of reducing the disparity in employment for people with I/DD. Founders Pam and Pat Donovan opened the shop with their son Ethan in mind.

The coffee shop’s namesake, Ethan, working on a painting.
The coffee shop’s namesake, Ethan, working on a painting.
For Ethan, who has has epilepsy and autism and uses an alternative method of communication, job opportunities were not readily available for him as he approached aging out of public schooling. Thankfully, Pam and other likeminded social entrepreneurs identified this untapped, underrepresented talent in the workforce. And they’ve challenged the status quo with inclusive business models.
 
Rocco measuring flour for a batch of ricotta cookies
Rocco measures flour for a batch of ricotta cookies.

Creating Opportunities

The shop provides training and gainful employment to Ethan and a few other individuals with varying disabilities. The true mission, however, is to shift the mindset of society, one cup of coffee at a time.

Mike presents baked goods he prepared with his colleagues.
Mike presents baked goods he prepared with his colleagues.

The space centers the unique passions, skills, and dreams of each person on the team. Beyond coffee and confections made in house, Ethan & the Bean is also an art gallery, showcasing many of Ethan’s works, some of which are for sale to the public.

art gallery, showcasing many of Ethan’s works
The art gallery showcases many of Ethan’s works.

Now that the shop is open and indoor dining is resuming in NJ, there is no telling what this next chapter will look like. To begin, the team has plans to roll out new seasonal items, expand gift offerings in the marketplace, and develop more community programming. Coffee and merchandise are also available online.

Ethan & the Bean sweatshirt
Ethan & The Bean merchandise

Fall hours:
Monday to Saturday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.

Ethan & the Bean (ethanandthebean.com)
98 Main Street
Little Falls, NJ 

Written by Francesca Cwynar, of pensivefoodie.com.
Photos courtesy of Ethan & the Bean.