Cafes run by staffs with down syndrome

Major chain store

Brownies & Downies

Netherlands

Cafe chain with 58 stores in the Netherlands.

Founded in 2010 by Thijs Swinkels, who used to work in the catering business, and opened the first store in Veghel, the chain was acquired by Albron, a catering business in 2022.

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Bitty & Beau’s Coffee

U.S.A.

Cafe chain with 20 stores in U.S.A.
Founded in 2016 by Amy and Ben Wright, parents of two children with Down syndrome named Bitty and Beau, the company opened its first store in Wilmington.

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Café Joyeux

France

Cafe chain with 15 stores in France, Belgium, and Portugal. Founded in 2017 by Yann Bucaille-Lanrezac, a businessman who also invested in hotels, and his wife Lydwine, the company opened its first store in Rennes (Brittany).

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Cafes with these characteristics

Cooking and selling french fries in a food truck

Poland
Frytki Belgiczne
Fritsky Belgian (Belgian style fries)
One store in a Polish chain that sells Belgian-style fries is manufactured and sold by staff with Down syndrome, with support from an association for parents of people with Down syndrome.

Awarded top restaurant ranking (Belgium)

Belgium
65 degrees

Top Belgian restaurant ranking

Serves course meals and works as staff on the floor and in the kitchen.

France
Le Reflet Paris / Nantes

Stores in Paris and Nantes, France. In 2016, Flore Lelièvre, whose brother has Down syndrome, opened the business. Staff with Down syndrome work both on the floor where course meals are served and in the kitchen.

Cafe with accommodation facilities

Netherlands
Valkenswaard with B&B
bed and breakfast
A store with a cafe and B&B. A branch of the Cafe Brownie & Downies chain. In addition to working at the cafe, they also provide linen and cleaning services for accommodation facilities.

Cafe list

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