Coffee with your Chaucer
New Greenwich Library café opens, operated by Abilis
GREENWICH — With renovation work still ongoing at Greenwich Library, the facility opened its new café Monday, marking a partnership with Abilis, whose clients will staff the space.
Due to the coronavirus, the café currently is only open for no-contact pickup with a limited menu.
As the pandemic eases, the café will expand to full service. First Selectman Fred Camillo came by for the first cup of coffee served Monday.
“We are ... very proud to partner with Abilis on The Café. Their workforce development efforts on behalf of those with special needs mesh well with the Library’s mission to promote lifelong learning,” library Director Barbara Ormerod-Glynn said Monday.
The café is situated close to the redesigned Baxter Courtyard and the new Berkley Theater and lobby. Ormerod-Glynn said the location, “…will ultimately set it apart as a busy, yet cozy spot to meet up with friends or enjoy a delicious latte and a
healthy breakfast or lunch.”
People can order at www.greenwichlibrarycafe.org and pick up items outside the library in the Baxter Courtyard. The menu for now is limited to grab and go fare including coffee, tea, bagels and pastries.
In the future, the café will expand its menu with lunch specials that will be provided by partner restaurants in town including Garden Catering, Upper Crust Bagel Company, Arcuri’s Pizza and Salad, COBS Bread and Happiness is Back Country Market and Café. Once conditions allow it, the café will offer indoor dining.
Under the partnership with Abilis, eight employees will staff the café, all of whom are clients of the agency, which serves people with special needs.
“We’re ready to serve customers and look forward to meeting the library employees and patrons as they pick up a coffee or a bagel with their library books,” said café Manager Heather Brown, who also oversees Abilis’ Gardens and Gifts store in Glenville..
Providing employment opportunities to clients is a large part of Abilis’ program.
“The crucial job skills developed with our business ventures, including Abilis Gardens & Gifts, our landscaping businesses, office administration and facility maintenance, and now The Café at Greenwich
Library, all help us continue our goal of community integration and creating employment opportunities of which Abilis is so well known,” said the non-profit’s CEO and President Amy Montimurro.
Montimurro added she believes the new café will be a place where, “… individuals with special needs learn meaningful job skills and are gainfully employed while providing service to library patrons.”