New Coffeehouse Opens In Morristown, Aiding Disabled Community

MORRISTOWN, NJ — A new coffee shop in Morristown wants to do more than serve customers good food.

The owners of Ethan and the Bean want to serve their community and their employees with an important life lesson in compassion by employing adults with intellectual disabilities.

Ethan and the Bean have announced that their newest location at Valley National Bank's new headquarters on Speedwell Avenue will officially open on Nov. 30 at 5 p.m.

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

According to Francesca Cwynar, community manager at Ethan and the Bean, the unemployment rate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is well above 80 percent. Ethan and the Bean's mission is to assist the nation's most marginalized population.

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

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

Ethan and the Bean was founded by Pamela Donovan, who started the non-profit coffee company out of necessity as her son, Ethan, graduated from high school and she was concerned about his future.

"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 previously told Patch.

Ethan and the Bean officials said they are currently hiring in Morristown for the following positions.

• Baristas
• Bakers/Baristas
• Training and Support Team Members

"We are looking for individuals who love coffee, inclusion, and being a part of change. If interested, please email nitasha@ethanandthebean.com," the company said.