Abilis, the nonprofit that provides services to individuals with disabilities and their families, announce it won the contract to manage and staff the new Abilis Courthouse Café at the Stamford Superior Court House.
The Abilis team at the Abilis Courthouse Café: Pam Arturi, director of Business for Abilis, Abilis CEO Amy Montimurro, Lindy Urso, an attorney and former Abilis board member who is on Abilis’ Human Resources committee and saw the Courthouse Café had been closed since the pandemic and heard of the RFP and brought the opportunity to Abilis; Agni Daniel, Abilis Courthouse Café staff, Zach Devine, Abilis Courthouse Café team member, and Mevlan Lebiti, Abilis Courthouse Café staff. Contributed photo
Abilis, which runs six other Cafés in Fairfield County in partnership with the Greenwich Library, Darien Library, Darien YMCA, Darien Depot, the Town of Greenwich (Island Beach Concession), and its own headquarters Café, was selected in a request for proposal by the Stamford/Norwalk Judicial District.
The Abilis Courthouse Café features a variety of delicious and popular hot and cold food options as well as snacks and beverages.
It is now open to the public, Monday through Friday, from 7:30am until 3:00pm.
The food at the Abilis Courthouse Café comes from partnerships with some of the area’s favorite restaurants and caterers, including Arcuri’s Pizza and Salad, Friends & Company Kitchen (gluten and dairy-free baked goods), Garden Catering, Happiness Is Back Country Market and Neri’s Bakery.
The Café is also proud to serve local, organic coffee from Shearwater Organic Coffee Roasters.
“We are thrilled to have won the RFP for the new Abilis Courthouse Café,” said Amy Montimurro, CEO and president of Abilis in a release.
“Abilis has had a successful history running wonderful, inclusive cafés in lower Fairfield County,” she added. “To be selected by the Stamford Superior Courthouse, which is a high-traffic venue, is really validating that our competitive employment program for adults with disabilities is a great model that more organizations are excited to embrace.”
Montimurro said the new Abilis Courthouse Café employs Abilis community members, along with job coaches and a manager, and provides much needed competitive employment opportunities for adults with disabilities in our community.
“Employment rates for those with disabilities has often been low, with 80 percent unemployment, but we are helping change that statistic. We have had such a positive response to our Cafés with the Greenwich and Darien Libraries, the Darien Y, the Darien Depot and the Town of Greenwich, and we are excited to be expanding our Café concept to Stamford,” Montimurro added.
The Abilis Courthouse Café’s menu includes hot and cold brewed coffee, cappuccinos, lattes, tea, hot chocolate, cold drinks, breakfast pastries and wraps, oatmeal, bagels, chicken nuggets and cones, Mac bites, fruit, fruit and green salads, sandwiches, wraps and paninis, pizza slices, soups, yogurt, cookies, nuts, chips and more.
The Abilis Courthouse Café also features seasonal specials and gift items from Abilis’ retail training site, shop and greenhouse, Abilis Gardens & Gifts, where café patrons can also purchase gift items and flower arrangements on-site.
To learn more about the Abilis Courthouse Café, visit jud.ct.gov/directory/
Stamford Superior Court is located at 123 Hoyt Street in Stamford.
Abilis is a 501c3 non-profit organization that supports more than 800 individuals with disabilities and their families from birth throughout their lives. Founded in 1951, Abilis is a leader in providing meaningful supports to the community in Fairfield County, Connecticut, in towns including Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Stamford, Westport and Wilton. The organization has a long-standing reputation for individualized, high-quality care. For more information, visit www.abilis.us, or follow on Facebook @Abilis, Inc., Instagram @abilis_us or Twitter @Abilis.