Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael England.
Hi Michael, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to introduce yourself.
My wife and I got involved with several non-profit organizations in the special needs community, one of which was Ainsley’s Angels. Ainsley’s Angels is a group that allows inclusion at running events. Through Ainsley’s Angels, we met Bradley Styer and the Styer family. Bradley and I were a team at local 5ks, and we quickly became close friends. After spending time with the Styers, we learned that while Bradley desperately wanted to work, there were very few opportunities. We looked into several business models and finally landed on a coffee shop. We also decided to go the non-profit route so everyone could help build it, and it could be a community thing. In January 2021, the concept for The Exceptional Bean was born. There were countless hurdles along the way, but we finally got the doors open on July 18th of this year. We employ 33 individuals with varying degrees of special needs, and everyone has done a fantastic job!! Our community has come out and been incredibly supportive as well. That is the very short version of our story, so if you have any follow-up questions, I would be glad to provide that as well.
Please talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned. Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
HA. I made the mistake of saying, “how hard can this be” when we started. It turns out it can be very hard. Navigating the 501c3 process was an absolute nightmare. Fundraising could only begin in earnest once we had that status. We were told it would take 90 days, which ended up taking 11 months. We also had a location that we thought was perfect initially, ultimately falling through. Construction was a bit of a nightmare as I’m convinced the only time frame contractors to know “2 weeks”. We were told “2 weeks” for 6 months. All the while, we were paying rent, so that was fun. However, each time we faced a major roadblock, we were also given an easy and obvious out. The day our location fell through, the owner of another better location contacted us. When rent checks come due, we get a donation around the same time. Believe what you choose, but I believe God sets out a path, and all we have to do is follow.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I worked in Automotive most of my adult life, which prepares you to open a coffee shop. I did have a background in food service as I waited tables and tended bar in college. I love talking to people and meeting new people so running a coffee shop is right up my alley. I’m like running for mayor every day, but I don’t ever have to be mayor.
My wife Cigi, however, is the engine that has driven this train. She worked at AmericasMart in Atlanta for several years. She then moved back to Cookeville, opened her own clothing boutique, and has grown into a very successful business over the last 8 years. She is truly an entrepreneur so having her during this process was crucial. She has also built an incredible reputation in the community, so anytime we hit one of those roadblocks I spoke about, someone would come out to help because of something Cigi had done for them. It was quite amazing to see.
What characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to if you had to?
First and foremost, I know that Cigi and I were doing this for the right reasons. It was never about us. We saw a need and thought we could help, so we decided to try. We are both open-minded and kind. We both are willing to work hard, and maybe most importantly, we understand that it takes discipline and consistency to accomplish anything. Rome wasn’t built in a day and nothing worthwhile ever is. There will always be hard days, but keep moving forward and doing the best you can.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theexceptionalbean.com
- Instagram: theexceptionalbean
- Facebook: The Exceptional Bean
