By MICHELE COLLINS
Two and Company provides people of all abilities with a chance to contribute to their community through the simple pleasure of doing a good job. And to that end, the organization is doubling its space, offering job training and exceptional education to as many as three times the individuals they have been able to serve in their current location.
Two and Company, which is celebrating its 10th year, has been located within the walls of Two Cafe at 8578 E Washington St. in the Market Square East plaza in Bainbridge. But as of October, they will have a new home, at 177 and 183 Washington Street in Chagrin Falls.
The organization, and its underlying Two Foundation, supports individuals with disabilities, through one-on-one job training and education, via a full-scale restaurant business and shop.
Two Cafe prides itself on offering customers delicious, clean foods, served in a convenient setting, according to its founder, Shari Hunter, founder and CEO of Two and Company. The restaurant has also expanded into offering gifts in a unique shop in the space next door to the cafe.
The foundation’s trained employees create the food, serve the food and take care of the restaurant space. They also operate the gift store. Through the business, they learn important job skills.
But, more importantly, they gain independence and self-worth.
To date, the organization has worked with more than 90 businesses, which have hired Two and Company graduates over the last nine years. The graduates become employees of the businesses, and many have continued in those jobs since the Two Foundation’s inception.
But with this growth, has come the need for a larger space.
“We have truly outgrown our current space, and we want to have a space where we can help more individuals, but also give back to our community, through a cafe that can serve double the amount of customers,” said Ms. Hunter.
The organization has purchased and renovated a well-known Chagrin Falls location, the former Euro Motor Sports automotive service center, at 177 and 183 Washington Street, across the street from the Chagrin Falls Post Office.
The historic building, built in 1915, which has housed numerous automotive service businesses throughout its history, has been stripped to its bones, cleaned and renovated to now include a cafe, training area and full kitchen.
An accompanying home on the property is being converted to allow the organization to train some of its clients in hospitality services, inside a small working inn.
“We are so excited to be at the new location which will offer us increased visibility within Chagrin Falls, as well as easy access to foot traffic,” shared Ms. Hunter. “The volume of business at the Two and Company cafe and shops is projected to increase by six times!”
The larger space and opportunity to serve more customers, with seating for 72, means “more opportunities for our trainees to learn important job skills and more chances for people in our community to experience first-hand what an integrated workplace looks and feels like,” shared the energetic founder.
Two and Company, which started as a personal goal of Ms. Hunter, whose adult son Derek has special needs, has grown into a movement, a movement that has almost reached its fundraising goal of $4 million for the new facility.
“We are hosting our Harvest Moon fundraiser on October 19,” shared Ms. Hunter. “So the new building better be ready,” she laughed. “At it will include tours of the new location, as well as a tent out back for the actual benefit. We are hoping to host 300 people at the fundraiser, and through this benefit to raise the additional $500,000 we need to reach our ultimate goal.”
A goal of sharing with the Chagrin Falls community, how people of all abilities can be integrated into it, and provide a much-loved service for it. And not to mention, a delicious meal, and place to find the perfect gift.