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Wouldn’t it be cool if your daily cup of coffee created equal opportunity for an adult with a different ability?

Yeah…we thought so, too!

  • Mallory Snellen & Tiffany McDowell

    Sisters, Mallory and Tiffany, envisioned a place where both the typically- and differently-abled could meet, feel welcomed, and learn from each other. The Joy Bar model focuses on the JOY that comes from learning new things and making new friends. Built on the foundation of COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT - Joy Bar Coffee both empowers and employs by paying a fair wage that exceeds minimum wage requirements to all staff. While we believe volunteerism is important for those who have the financial means to do so, we believe there is great dignity in being compensated for the work you do. Every dollar spent at Joy Bar Coffee is invested to both further our mission and empower our employees.

  • Kaylee Snellen

    Kaylee graduated from UNCG with a Bachelors Degree in Human Development and Family Studies. Her vision for Joy Bar is one that creates a platform where the neurodiverse can be seen and stereotypes can be crushed. She believes coffee can serve as a vehicle for both JOY and CHANGE.

Our Mission:

Joy Bar Coffee aims to blend the artistry of exceptional coffee with the inclusivity of a competitively integrated workforce. We are dedicated to providing a joyful space where both typically-abled and disabled individuals work collaboratively to deliver outstanding coffee experiences. Through our commitment to excellence in coffee and genuine community care, we aim to create a place where everyone feels valued & included and can savor the richness of both our coffee and connections.

Why here? Why now?

Joy Bar Coffee Inc. began with a dream that people like my sister, Mallory, would be included in the workplace. The unemployment rate for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities is nearly 3X the unemployment rate for adults with no disability. Why? While we want to assume positive intent, statistics clearly show that people with I/DD are not included in society at the same rate as their peers.

So much more than coffee…

After successfully starting and operating Mallory Paige Designs, Inc., we decided we could do so much more as a business that was open to the public. This space would emanate JOY in its products, its employees, and its atmosphere. “Joy” has always been the simplest way I’ve known to explain what my sister contributes to the world. While the rest of us are busy hustling and grinding, rarely taking a second to question what fruit we’ve produced through our efforts to be #1, Mallory is content in her joyfulness & kindness - something every person she meets experiences.

What exactly IS Joy Bar Coffee?

Joy Bar Coffee is focused on creating a space for the typically-abled and differently-abled community to experience the joy of working with and learning from new friends. While most schools create opportunities for children to know and experience friendships with differently-abled children in an inclusive environment, the adult world rarely affords us the same opportunities to see, work with, or even know a fellow adult who is neurodiverse or differently-abled. How cool would it be to walk into a shop where the employees are genuinely grateful to see you and want to know you better? Yeah…we thought that would be pretty cool, too! That, friends, is the JOY BAR COFFEE concept!

We are passionate about educating the community on COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT. The concept of CIE is simple - hire, train, and PAY people with I/DD comparable wages to their peers. While we believe volunteering is wonderful and necessary for those with the financial means to do so, we don’t believe people with disabilities should be underpaid (or not paid at all) when they perform work for a business. It’s the reason you can be confident when you purchase your favorite drink from Joy Bar that they EVERY employee responsible for your drink and your experience were paid above minimum wage to deliver it.