Rise & Nye’s, A Coffee and Ice Cream Shop with a Purpose
What does an “inclusion revolution” look like? Rise Coffee Co. & Nye’s Cream Sandwiches is showing Sarasota.
At the end of December, the joint drink-and-dessert shop opened on State Street with a unique business model: to employ team members with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“Eighty percent of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are unemployed. For too long, this population has been shunned, ignored, feared, bullied, humiliated, and institutionalized,” says co-owner/founder Beaver Shriver of The Shriver Group, a longtime philanthropist for organizations like the Special Olympics and Best Buddies International.
“This is the first job for many of these guys. We want them to have a great experience, love their jobs, enjoy being included, and finally have a platform from which to be seen, to be heard, and to shine.”
To this end, Shriver joined forces with renowned chef Christian Nyes, whose gourmet ice cream sandwich concept (goldbelly.com) perfectly complemented his coffee venture. Nyes studied at the Culinary Institute of America in New York, worked as an executive chef for 16 years, and even cooked for former presidents of the United States.
“When I started the ice cream business, I always felt there was a bigger purpose for it. And my wife, Kelly, has always been involved with special needs; it’s near and dear to her heart,” Nyes says. “After 10 years of wondering why God gave me this business, it all fell into place, and it’s all about doing something for the community.”
For help recruiting Rise and Nye’s employees, the owners partnered with The Haven—an organization that has served the Sarasota area special needs community since 1954, offering application assistance and interview preparation. Easterseals Southwest Florida specialists also help prospective employees with training and career readiness.
“Locally, there is a big demand for secure, successful, inclusive employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We’re making a small dent in that demand,” says Shriver, who founded the nonprofit organization Inclusion Revolution to help disabled employees find meaningful work. “They deserve an opportunity to show their abilities, be respected, and be included in society.”
Rise and Nye’s gives employees the opportunity to craft exquisite food and drinks while interacting with the public in a fun, family-friendly setting downtown. Everything the shop serves is made in house—from the ice cream to the cookies, inclusions, sauces, and toppings. The menu includes New Orleans-style beignets, gourmet ice cream sandwiches (customers can pick their own cookies and hand-scooped ice cream flavors), milkshakes, soda floats, USDA-certified organic coffees, espresso drinks, and Nitro cold brew.
“We’re doing this for more than just to help people with special needs; we’re unlocking their gifts to help them transform the culture. We need to end the fear of difference and replace it with the power of inclusion,” Shriver says. “Rise & Nye’s will create the space for this to happen. That’s why we’re planning to open a bunch more shops.”
Rise Coffee Co. & Nye’s Cream Sandwiches: 1534 State St, Sarasota; 941-217-6449; riseandnyes.com
