Local coffee houses like BeanZ, Dom’s, and The Coffee Spot are the center of community in many ways. They provide a gathering place for friends, businesses, students, and families. However, they are more than just a place for coffee, they are beacons of light serving the diverse residents of Farmington Valley.
BeanZ & Co. brews opportunities for all abilities (by Keith McGilvery)
beanZandco.com
When you step inside BeanZ and Co. in Avon, you'll find fresh brewed coffee, great food, and exceptional service in a place where EVERYONE BELONGS. For Co-founders Kim Morrison and Noelle Alix, it's more than a tagline, it's their authentic commitment to creating a community and jobs for people of all abilities, including those with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). The bustling café, coffee house and adjacent pasta company is a beacon for embracing and creating a community of people, from all walks of life.
BeanZ & Co. is on a mission to expand awareness of and reduce the number of IDD friends that are unemployed or underemployed. The need for this was inspired by their daughters, who both have Down syndrome.
Kim’s daughter, Meg, is a customer favorite who knows the menu by heart. Her smile lights up the counter, and she can easily guide you through the fresh-baked treats, signature salads, sandwiches, and seasonally-inspired specials. She has had a tracheostomy since infancy and communicates through American Sign Language (ASL). Being a savvy businesswoman, she rarely lets that stop her from encouraging visitors to add a baked good to their order.
Longtime BeanZ employee, Nick Sinacori, is dean of the dining room. The accomplished Special Olympics athlete welcomes guests with his genuine, warm smile and is always there to lend a helping hand to guests, bringing their food or clearing a table for others.
BeanZ is a frequent destination for service men/women and dogs alike. You can find the local Avon VFW (Post 3272) gathering every Thursday morning and lending a hand when a need arises, such as the time the café had to move a few years ago. Blue Path Service dogs are always welcome guests at the café as well. The will be hosting a weekly Storytime Saturday with one of their service dogs starting again this winter.
Where we spend our time and money says a lot about what we value. When you visit BeanZ & Co., you're saying yes to a world where EVERYONE BELONGS.
The Scoop (& Slide) at Dom’s
domscoffee.com
Playgrounds are much more than just places for children to play. They are spaces for learning, social interaction, laughter, and connection. They bring families together and create a true sense of community. Dom’s Coffee owners Asta Plankiene and Andrius Plankis have a dream to build a local playground in Avon in 2027.
Dom’s Scoop & Slide will be a XXX square foot playground next to their ice cream shop on Main Street in Avon. From climbers and slides to musical play stations and shaded areas, each element of the playground plays an important role in creating a safe, engaging place for children and families to gather.
“We are working to create a modern, safe, and welcoming playground where families can gather, children can grow, and memories can be made," says Plankiene.
Over 50 local businesses and individuals have already donated to make this vision a reality through sponsorships ranging from $25 to $10,000. There is still time to donate and make a meaningful investment in the neighborhood to serve the families of today and in the years to come. Groundbreaking is expected in spring 2027 with a completion date anticipated around Summer 2027.
Shop-a-Latte at The Coffee Spot
thecoffeespot.net
Something you will notice about the Coffee Spot (CS) in Simsbury is its dedication to being an all-inclusive gathering space for the community. Owners Amy and Jay Sheehan have created a space with unique events like dog and cat adoptions, goat snuggling, and writing clubs. They often create special treats to raise money and awareness for specific purposes as well. Recently, they created a “Teal Ribbon Latte” in which Teal Cold Foam can be added to a drink. The proceeds go towards Diane’s Helping Hands, to benefit ovarian cancer patients and increase awareness. Similarly, they create special baked goods that support local theater groups.
Siobhán Murphy is a manager, baker and event coordinator at CS. She is focused on delivering ways to connect people to one another such as the SHOP A LATTE Market, a monthly market series running from April through October each year. Some recent vendors include authors and local artists who specialize in crochet, glassworks, jewelry, pottery, and even homemade dog treats.
“We are open to what the community wants and needs”, says Murphy, “no matter who you are, there is a place for you here."
Giv Coffee
givcoffee.com
A huge part of the mission of Giv from day one has been creating a quality local product that impacts the world and the local community. Follow your nose - Giv Coffee roasts their beans here in Canton behind their coffee shop on Albany Turnpike. Follow your heart - Giv donates $1 of every bag sold to organizations such as locally-based Community First School (CFS), which serves children in grades K-5 in North Hartford. CFS empowers children to own their greatness, to become passionate, independent learners able to compete, collaborate, and innovate in a diverse world by implementing a whole-family care, relationship-based, and place-based program.
“We are open to what the community wants and needs, no matter who you are, there is a place for you here"