Photo Courtesy: //3877

Project: Bitty & Beau’s Georgetown

Address: 3207 M Street, NW, Washington, D.C.

Total Square Footage: 1,654-square-feet

Client/Owner: Rae Stone

At the center of Georgetown, the newest location of Bitty & Beau’s is the brand’s first-ever franchised location and brings freshly brewed flavor to Washington D.C.’s oldest neighborhood. Founded in 2016, Bitty and Beau’s creates a valuable path of acceptance and inclusion for people with disabilities in every community in which it serves. Today, the chain has grown to over 23 shops across 12 states with over 350 employees with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A trip to Bitty and Beau’s is much more than a stop along the way to grab a cup of joe –– it is an experience grounded in equality, connection and community.

To establish the beloved café in the bustling DMV area, franchise owner Rae Stone enlisted a local expert, Washington, D.C.-based architecture and design firm //3877 for the adaptive reuse project. Inspired by the mission of the company and the local context, the design team interpreted brand standards to fit the unique parameters of the space. Through strategic planning, the design team facilitated a natural circulation into the narrow layout, providing touchpoints of connectivity while prioritizing operational efficiency. In partnership with Potomac Energy Group and Thomas Construction Services, the team brought the coffee shop to life with a streamlined, functional environment, simultaneously providing thoughtful opportunities for customer-to-employee engagement.

As guests enter the space from the lively intersection of M Street and Wisconsin Avenue, they’re immediately greeted with a jovial “Welcome to Bitty and Beau’s!” from team members. A stylish display showcases the brand’s extensive merchandise offerings, including keychains, t-shirts and dog collars that echo the same sentiment. Custom floating pallets decorate the ceiling, creating intrigue as guests approach the central design element of the space: the coffee counter. The expansive, solid surface stone coffee counter offers seven bar stool seats for guests to make themselves at home. The bar space encourages baristas to hone their craft as they interact with customers, engaging them in the process through conversation and a love-for-coffee connection.

Lighting underneath the counter illuminates the linear, textured bar while overhead café string lights surround the space in a warm, inviting glow. As guests explore further into the café, they’ll notice the graphic wall displays lining the interior that visually narrate Bitty and Beau’s brand mission. Embracing the brand standard of the chain, the design encompasses a raw, industrial feel, highlighting natural materials and textures such as lacquered steel and wood finishes –– a visual representation that complements the café’s unique customer service experience.