Purpose in every cup: Haymount coffee shop provides job training for special needs adults
Fayetteville’s newest coffee shop promises purpose in every cup.
Miller’s Brew Coffee Shop at 1401 Morganton Road held a grand opening Saturday. Operated by 20 special needs adults, the nonprofit cafe is part of Miller’s Crew, an organization founded by former Cumberland County Schools speech pathologist Kim Molnar in 2016.
Named after Molnar’s son Miller, who is autistic, the organization provides vocational training, apprenticeships and employment opportunities for special needs adolescents and young adults. The new coffee shop is an extension of the work Miller’s Crew does in schools and on their food truck, Molnar said.
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Building opportunities for special needs students and adults
Miller’s Crew has installed eight training labs in Cumberland County high schools, plus one in Bladen County and another in Union County, where students operate cafes that serve packaged foods, coffee, juice and smoothies to fellow students and school staff, Molnar said.
In 2021, the nonprofit launched Cooking with the Crew, a mobile training lab and food truck. The food truck serves grilled cheese sandwiches, hot dogs and salads at events around Cumberland County. Molnar said the truck picked up steam quickly after its launch, and in peak season serves up to five events a week.
High school cafes, the food truck and now the coffee shop help trainees develop soft skills that employers are looking for, like communication with guests and multitasking, Molnar said. They also provide a comfortable environment for participants to learn how to modify tasks to their special needs.
Miller’s Crew can help trainees connect with local businesses to secure employment, Molnar said. One former trainee has worked at Jersey Mike’s for more than a year now, she said.
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New Haymount coffee shop
The coffee shop, at the former site of BB&T Bank on the corner of Olive and Morganton roads, will serve espresso drinks, brewed coffee, milkshakes and pastries from Superior Bakery, Molnar said.
The space has a few cozy nooks and patio seating where customers can catch up with a friend, study or work. One wall features a colorful mural with flowers and a neon-style sign that reads “Miller’s Crew Training Co.”
Molnar said she is grateful for the outpouring of support from the community and for the opportunity to help special needs people and their families.
"We just hope it’s as meaningful for the families we’re trying to help as it is for us,” she said.
The details
Address: 1401 Morganton Road, Fayetteville
Hours: 7 a.m. to 5:30 Tuesday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday.
Phone: 910-500-3098
On the web: millerscrew.com/millers-brew
Reporter Taylor Shook can be reached at tshook@gannett.com. Sign up for the Fayetteville Foodies newsletter for food news delivered straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Miller's Crew opens Haymount coffee shop in Fayetteville, NC
