Menumenu

October 15, 2020 | Greenwich Free Press

Abilis and Greenwich Library are joining forces to write the next chapter of café service at Greenwich Library. The two organizations are partnering to bring The Café at Greenwich Library to fruition. 

The Café will offer a variety of delicious and popular coffee and food choices, coordinating with local favorite restaurants such as Garden Catering, Upper Crust Bagel Company, Arcuri’s Pizza & Salad, COBS Bread, Happiness Is Back Country Market & Café and coffee from Shearwater Coffee Roasters. This venture is integral to the Library’s goal to provide a welcoming community gathering space while being able to help support the important work of Abilis. The Café at Greenwich Library will open later this year with online ordering and no-contact pick-up.

Library cafe 2020

 

The hours will be the same as no-contact pick up at the Library. The space is located in the newly remodeled lower level by the new Baxter Courtyard entrance. The Café at Greenwich Library was made possible through a gift from The Asness Family Foundation.

Heather Brown, a professional food service manager with more than 30 years of experience working in restaurant and catering businesses, will manage The Café at Greenwich Library on a daily basis for Abilis, overseeing employees and this new expansion of Abilis’ competitive employment services. The agreement between Abilis and Greenwich Library to manage The Café is a three-year contract that was awarded after a competitive bidding process.

“We are very excited to be able to extend Abilis’ competitive employment program to The Café at Greenwich Library,” said Amy Montimurro, CEO and president of Abilis. “Abilis remains committed to our mission ensuring individuals with disabilities have meaningful employment. These skills are developed in conjunction with our business ventures, such as Abilis Gardens & Gifts, the Abilis Café, our landscaping businesses, office administration and facility maintenance. This new venture with Greenwich Library for The Café will allow us to continue our goal of community integration and creating employment opportunities of which Abilis is so well known. The Café at Greenwich Library will be a place where individuals with special needs can learn meaningful job skills and be gainfully employed while providing service to Library patrons.” 

“As part of the development of the Request For Proposals, the Library conducted a survey to determine the community’s vision for a successful café. Food quality, excellent service, an inviting atmosphere, and good coffee were among the most important attributes chosen,” said Barbara Ormerod-Glynn, Greenwich Library director. “We designed a warm, welcoming, comfortable and well-lit space where community members can meet up over a cup of coffee and a snack that complements and enhances the overall patron experience at the Library. We’re pleased to partner with Abilis to bring this vision of The Café at Greenwich Library to life.”

Online ordering will be available through The Café at Greenwich Library’s website greenwichlibrarycafe.org.