Yesterday, March 12, marked the grand opening of Miller's Brew at Café West. This café, located at Cumberland County Public Library's West Regional Library, is a second location for Miller's Brew Coffee Shop - a Fayetteville coffee shop owned by Kim and Karl Molnar that connects, trains and employs young adults with developmental disabilities.
“We're here today to celebrate the grand opening of Miller’s Brew at Café West. This partnership will bring benefits to the Cumberland County Public Library and a business that is just good for our community, the time and place couldn't be better” shared Chairman of the County Commission Kirk deVierre.
This collaboration between Miller’s Brew and the library was initially announced in November 2024. Over the past few months both parties have worked together to prepare the space for the grand opening.
“This space isn't just one to enjoy a delicious cup of coffee or an excellent chocolate milkshake, but also a place where young people can hone their skills, build relationships, build friendships, and gain work experience. So none of this would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the many individuals in this project,” shared Assistant County Manager and Library Director Faith Phillips.
The mission of Miller’s Crew started back in 2016. They started out offering programming in 10 high schools across the area. As the program grew they introduced a food truck in 2021 to expand training opportunities, and eventually they opened the first Miller’s Brew coffee shop in 2023.
This second location allows the organization to train even more crew members. What once was a team of 6 crew members is now a team of over 60 crew members that receive training each week.
“We are glad to be here, because we knew that we needed to train more people to get ready for the world of working. And we do a really good job, and it's taken me seven years to say that…The growth and development that these young people exhibit on a daily basis is amazing,” shared Kim Molnar.
Make a trip to 7469 Century Circle and grab a shake, smoothie, coffee or pastry and support this business that continues to give back to the community.
To wrap up the first day, attendees were able to meet up for a social event at the Brad Halling American Whiskey Ko. in Southern Pines where a $10,000 check was presented to the Joint Special Operations Foundation for their scholarship fund. Photo pr
The three-story, 200,000 square-foot business incubator space is located at 420 Maiden Lane. The building features an elevator, construction has begun on handicap bathrooms for the first floor and the second and third floors feature window walls offering views of Segra Stadium.
Image provided by FTCCFocused on building the local workforce and streamlining the education process through real world learning, the Hope, Opportunity, Prosperity through Education Program at Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC), also kno
