A pair of local cafes thrive while employing those with special needs

By:  | November 25, 2024 |  |  Monmouth County

By William Clark

Two Monmouth County-based cafes are doing what they can to employ people with disabilities, hoping to encourage others to give industrious, dedicated workers a chance to help their own businesses. 

Circle of Friends Cafe in Belmar and No Limits Cafe in Red Bank are not directly affiliated with one another, but each have the same goal: striving to provide an opportunity for adults with disabilities to be a part of a team that serves delicious meals to appreciative customers. 

Former Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty oversees the Circle of Friends Cafe on Main Street in Belmar, which started as a pop-up shop along the boardwalk in the summer of 2023. The venture was so successful that Doherty was able to secure a permanent spot thanks to Reggie Hyde, owner of Bar Anticipation in Belmar, who is providing the space free of charge to the non-profit. 

Doherty credits Mark and Stephanie Cartier’s work with the No Limits Cafe as the inspiration for the Circle of Friends. 

Doherty’s connection with Bob and Carol Cupoli at Circle of Friends turned an idea into a mission. After working with the group for years in the Belmar community, watching the Cupolis host hundreds of adults with disabilities at karaoke nights, dance parties and other events, Doherty believed that there was a need that could be met by opening a cafe. 

Since opening this past July, the Circle of Friends Cafe has employed 22 adults with intellectual disabilities to do every job necessary for a hospitality establishment. In addition, there is a waiting list 19 deep for the next opportunity. 

No matter the employee’s functionality level, the cafe will find a role that best suits them, focusing on what they can accomplish rather than their limitations. 

The cafe pays each worker $15.50 an hour for their time. But Doherty doesn’t believe the paycheck is what matters most. It’s the sense of belonging, acceptance and contribution to something larger. 

“For a lot of our employees, this is the first job that they've ever had in their life,” he said. “And our employees are in their 30s and 40s. Some are in their 50s and 60s, and even though they don't work a lot of hours and they're not making a tremendous amount of money, it gives them a tremendous sense of pride.”

Doherty compares that to the struggle that may come with the daily grind for many people. Whereas the toil of daily wake ups, commutes and hours may take a toll on a worker without disabilities, those that clock in at Circle of Friends Cafe relish the chance. 

“What many people will take for granted and sometimes even find as an annoyance of having to go to work, our employees love it,” Doherty said. “You know, they desire it. They get excited about it.”

Though a task as small as refilling a refrigerator may seem dull and simple to some, Doherty pointed to one employee who had difficulties with fine motor skills. While volunteering his time at the Cafe, Doherty walked the employee back to the storage area and oversaw while the man carried a case of water to the front. He explained that the cold water needed to be moved to one side and the warmer bottles would be loaded on the other. 

The employee’s mother was there and instinctively went to help. But Doherty held her off, saying that her son could do it. She was uncomfortable with this idea. The task would take time with his limitations. Doherty didn’t mind, focusing more on accomplishing the goal rather than the time it took to do so. 

“No matter how long it takes them, knowing that it's not easy for them but [the fact is] that they can complete it,” Doherty said. 

Doherty also recounted a woman who had been told by her older sister that she was going to work so that she could buy items for her. The employee beamed as she dressed for work and before stepping out the door was able to tell her older sister that this time she would be buying something for her. 

Doherty’s dedication doesn’t stem from a close family member, just a desire to better the lives of others. The Cartiers’ work in Red Bank, however, comes from helping their daughter who has Down syndrome. 

Mr. Cartier saw the need to create opportunities because he saw the limited openings that were available for his daughter. 

“The men and women with [intellectual and developmental disabilities] face an 80% unemployment rate, which is very excessive,” Cartier said. “So we decided to do something about it.”

After purchasing a property and renovating, No Limits Cafe opened in March 2020, then promptly shut down due to restrictions put in place from the Covid-19 epidemic. 

Mr. Cartier increased the training in terms of health, safety and protective equipment and got the business back up and running once Covid-based restrictions were lifted. 

No Limits Cafe not only employs people but offers a 10-week paid training course so that people can learn the skills needed to be employed in a restaurant setting so they can set out to seek employment elsewhere. 

“The trainees love the empowerment of getting a paycheck,” he said. “We make this a true job experience for the trainees and then we help them find work outside the cafe.”

Mr. Cartier proudly states that 100 percent of those that have completed the program have gone on to secure jobs. 

As for those that work in No Limits Cafe, no traditional job you would find at a restaurant is out of reach for the employees. 

“They do every job in the cafe that is done in any other restaurant,” he said. “We make as many foods from scratch as we possibly can. We take great pride when customers come in and they say the food was really good. When we hear customers say that, it means their eyes are being opened to what these men and women are capable of, which is making a meal that is on par with what they would have anywhere else.”

Mr. Cartier said that the staff takes pride in all aspects of the operation, noting that one health inspector recently commented that their new food truck’s cleanliness was superlative. 

The Cartiers’ mission is not just to foster a space for people with disabilities to find employment, but to break the stigma altogether. They hope to walk into other businesses and see those with autism or Down syndrome working in a capacity that any neurotypical person would be. 

“When you think about it, who doesn't want an employee who shows up to work on time, ready to work hard, is honest, dedicated, and takes pride in their work every day?” he asked. 

Mr. Cartier sees that concept taking root already, pointing to a recent occasion where his employees were talking about second jobs they had secured. 

“It’s just beautiful to see, because they had grown in their abilities here, grown in their confidence, and that gave them the confidence to find another job,” he said.

Doherty has taken inspiration from No Limits Cafe and now hopes to pay that forward as well. He envisions franchising the concept to other parts of the Jersey Shore, paying it forward to others. 

“We have a line of employees or potential employees that want to work there,” Doherty said. “And I can tell you that no matter what effort anyone puts into putting a cafe like this together, the positive benefit you get out of it in the feeling of what you're doing and the difference you're making far outweighs any cost to you of putting a cafe like this together.”

Doherty has just started his journey in supporting this valuable community. 

Mr. Cartier pointed to a moment his wife had during theirs.

One young woman pulled Mrs. Cartier aside, asking for a moment to speak. The employee thanked Mrs. Cartier for the opportunity the couple provided the woman and the faith that they placed in her to help the business succeed. 

“Those are the kind of stories that inspire us and they keep us going,” Mr. Cartier said.