The Café at Darien Library that Employs Adults with Disabilities Officially Opens

There’s something special brewing in Darien with the opening of The Café at Darien Library, a partnership between Darien Library and Abilis, which provides employment opportunities for adults with disabilities. The Café officially opened to the public on Wednesday, February 9, after a celebratory Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening ceremony attended by Darien First Selectman Monica McNally, partners and guests. Abilis and Darien Library are especially thankful to The Darien Foundation for its generous support in providing funding for the equipment needed to serve the Darien community. The Café is currently open M-F, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but will extend hours in the coming months to match the Library's open hours.

Delicious coffee and food items are supplied by local favorite Darien and Fairfield County food purveyors, including Shearwater Organic Coffee Roasters, Michael Joseph’s Fine Foods, Palmer’s Market and Upper Crust Bagel & Café (ucbc). Daily specials and snacks will also be offered and each day’s available menu items can be viewed at darienlibrarycafe.org.

Photo is of the partners in The Café at Darien Library who officially cut the ribbon at the Grand Opening of The Café. The Café is located on the first floor of Darien Library and employs Abilis program participants who are adults with disabilities. Pictured L to R are: Millyn Gaaserud, president of Darien Library Board of Trustees, Kiera Parrott, director of Darien Library, Paige Kyle, Board member of The Darien Foundation, Mitch Cohen, chairman of the Board of Abilis, Sarah Woodberry, executive director of The Darien Foundation, Monica McNally, first selectman of the Town of Darien, Ward Glassmeyer, chairman of the Board of The Darien Foundation, Amy Montimurro, CEO and president of Abilis, Desiree a Café employee and Abilis program participant, Heather Brown, The Café’s manager with Abilis, and David Genovese, founder and CEO of Baywater Properties. Photo credit: Calderwood Photography.

Also pictured are Melanie and Desiree, Café employees and Abilis program participants; Ryan who is an Abilis job coach and shift manager at The Café, and Heather Brown with Abilis who oversees all of Abilis’ Café businesses. Photo credit: Calderwood Photography.