Get Cafe is trading one Narberth address for another, with plans for a bigger home at 301 Haverford Ave, just a short walk from its longtime Haverford Avenue storefront, as it looks to broaden training and paid work for neurodivergent employees. The nonprofit-run coffee shop says the new space will let it expand its menu, add more on-the-job training stations and create additional paid roles with built-in supports. Organizers are asking neighbors to weigh in on the plans and to chip in on fundraising to finish the build-out, describing the move as a step toward scaling a Main Line model of inclusive employment.
As reported by CBS Philadelphia, reporter Kerri Corrado visited the shop and framed the unveiling as part of the cafe's push to grow opportunities for employees on the autism spectrum and with other disabilities. The television piece noted that the new site sits "just down the street" from the existing cafe, will be larger and will offer more elbow room for both staff and customers.
What the new site will include
According to GETincluded, the new GET Cafe at 301 Haverford Ave will feature a full commercial kitchen that organizers say will support a larger menu, more training stations and the capacity to employ additional people with disabilities. The nonprofit's site also links to community surveys and fundraising pages that are part of a campaign to complete the build-out and outfit the new space.
A workforce built on inclusion
GET Cafe began as an employment and community program of GETincluded and intentionally hires and trains adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Brooke Goodspeed, the organization's founder, told CBS Philadelphia, "We've paid out over a million dollars to individuals with disabilities through our payroll," and that report noted the cafe's payroll includes roughly 33 people.
Local recognition and next steps
According to Main Line Parent, the cafe's work has drawn regional attention and it has been honored by local outlets and organizations. A short documentary about the shop premiered in December, as reported by Savvy Mainline.
Organizers say the additional kitchen capacity and floor space will let them build more paid, supported roles while keeping the cafe's sensory-friendly approach intact. GETincluded is asking neighbors and customers for feedback on menu ideas and design through online surveys and is accepting donations earmarked for construction and equipment, according to the group. Exact timelines for a grand opening have not yet been posted, but organizers say the project is aimed at quickly expanding paid, supported work opportunities across the borough.
