Café Joyeux staff outside of the Manhattan store on opening day | Photo credit: Café Joyeux

Paris-based coffee chain Café Joyeux has opened a store in Manhattan, New York – its first outlet outside of Europe. 
 

Café Joyeux provides barista training and employs people with mental and cognitive disabilities. The brand ‘chose the symbolic date of 21 March, World Down Syndrome Day’ to open the store. 

According to research cited by Café Joyeux, approximately 75% of the seven million people in the US with intellectual and developmental disabilities have no access to the job market.  

“It is a great honour and responsibility to develop the Café Joyeux brand and mission in the US. Inclusion is everyone’s role, and we need every American consumer and every American corporation - small or large, to support us. They can do so in many ways, like visiting our café, making a donation or buying our coffee to enjoy at home or at the office. All our profits go back to our mission and to our employees, the ones we have today and many more to come as we expand,” said Sylvie Giret, CEO, Café Joyeux US. 

Read related content: Opinion / Access all areas for customers with a disability 

Founded by Yann and Lydwine Bucaille, Café Joyeux opened its first store in Rennes in 2017 and has expanded to 15 stores across France, alongside five in Portugal and Belgium. The business currently employs 183 staff across its 21 sites and invests profits in the development and employment of people with disabilities. 
 

Café Joyeux plans to open a further seven stores this year across Europe.