When Michael Coyne couldn’t find a job, he took an unusual route to solving the problem. He opened his own coffee shop.
At Red, White & Brew in North Smithfield, Rhode Island, customers find a warm, welcoming place for everyone. They also find a friendly owner who is successfully running his own business.
Years of Frustration
Michael has autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). He is a former Special Olympics athlete who completed a hospitality training program. When he finished the program, he started looking for a restaurant job. Time after time, he said, he was told “no.”
Facebook / Red White & Brew Coffeehouse
After years of frustration, Coyne and his family came up with a new plan. He took business classes at the Rhode Island Developmental Disability Center. He then took out a business loan and opened Red, White & Brew.
Facebook / Red White & Brew Coffeehouse
Beacon of Hope
Coyne plans to hire people with autism and other developmental disabilities.
The coffee shop displays artwork and crafts created by local people with disabilities. The crafts are available at a store across the street.
Coyne said he knows what it’s like to be unappreciated, and he wants to make sure nobody else feels that way. As he told CBS News, he wants Red, White & Brew to be a “beacon of hope” for anyone who feels left out.
Facebook / Red White & Brew Coffeehouse
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