New Coffeehouse Opens Doors For Disabled Community In Morristown 

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Coffee lovers, get excited because a new café is coming to downtown Morristown this fall.

Ethan and the Bean have announced plans to open their newest location at Valley National Bank's new headquarters on Speedwell Avenue.

After opening its first location in 2019, Ethan and the Bean has grown in popularity due to their welcoming and impactful mission of increasing the employment rate for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

According to Francesca Cwynar, the community manager at Ethan and the Bean, the coffee shop does not have a definitive opening date, but they are hoping to open up to the community by the end of October or the beginning of November.

Pamela Donovan founded Ethan and the Bean, a woman-owned non-profit coffee company, out of necessity as her son graduated from high school and she was concerned about Ethan's future.

According to Cwynar, the unemployment rate is well over 80 percent for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Ethan and the Bean aims to help this grossly marginalized population in the nation.

Pam operates Ethan and the Bean with heart and compassion as a mom who understands firsthand the difficulties of navigating the world of employment for neurodivergent and disabled people. Her aim is that the company will continue to grow, develop, and assist people for many years to come.

Cwynar said that the team, including Nitasha Dickes, the café manager at the new Morristown location, are excited to join the Morristown community.

"Here at Ethan and the Bean, we take pride in competitive employment. Joining the vibrant community of Morristown is an exciting step in our trajectory, as we are a coffee shop that employs and trains neurotypicals alongside neurodivergent individuals. We believe in inclusion for all," Cwynar said.

The coffee shop is opening at Valley National Bank's headquarters, which replaced a string of vacant structures located on five Lots along Speedwell Avenue, according to SJP Properties.

The property includes about 120,000 square feet of office space, floor-to-ceiling windows and skyline views. Operable glass walls open to three outdoor terraces. The first floor features a lobby entrance with soaring ceilings, along with 14,500 square feet of available retail space, a portion of which will house a new Valley retail banking branch.

Valley National Bank has $62 billion in assets, according to its corporate profile. The company has branches in New Jersey, New York, Florida and Alabama.

Valley's new headquarters, one of the few significant new office projects under construction in New Jersey, is expected to bring more than 660 professionals to Morristown's dynamic downtown when it is completed.