If the 1971 mini-camper nestled inside the newest downtown-area coffee shop doesn’t catch one’s eye, a cuddly Sasquatch mascot and the aroma of Swedish pancake bites should certainly do the trick.
There’s more than a little of the unusual at Not Your Average Joe’s new concept called Ability Beyond Expectation or ABE’s. The nonprofit shop made its debut on Friday as part of a two-day grand opening at Sailor and the Dock, 617 W Sheridan Ave.
Tim Herbel, Not Your Average Joe’s founder and executive director, said ABE’s, like other Not Your Average Joe shops, focuses on employing individuals with special needs. Since opening in 2019, Not Your Average Joe has employed more than 300 students and adults with special needs in part-time positions and Herbel said ABE’s, an “adventure-inspired destination,” will provide an opportunity for many of those employees to work full-time.
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Guests line up to order during the two-day grand opening for ABE’s (Ability Beyond Expectation) at Sailor and the Dock on Friday
He said the travel-themed coffee shop was inspired by his own memories of traveling with his family along Route 66 to California. This nostalgia is incorporated into the atmosphere at ABE’s, with a camper that comes complete with 1970s avocado green appliances, a nearby “campsite” featuring a children’s tent and pillows on green turf, and ABE’s-themed cards, granola, s’mores, an Aeropress for coffee on the go and candles (fragrances include Campfire Coffee and Sweet Glamping) for purchase.
“We would stop along the way at places that had campsites and themed diners,” Herbel said. “So, my thought was, what if we created a destination for people to come and get refreshed, as if they’ve been to a campsite?”
Aebleskivers at ABE’s (Ability Beyond Expectation) at Sailor and the Dock.
ABE’s offers hot and cold coffee and coffee drinks (in custom clear cans) made in the camper kitchen, plus ice cream, acai stacks and egg bites. Herbel said most items on the menu are inspired by a destination, like the Puerto Rico-inspired Coquito Cloud Latte — a concoction of white chocolate, coconut and vanilla topped with whip cream, almonds and cinnamon sprinkles.
Not to be outdone by the drinks are the aebelskivers, the Swedish pancake bites that are ABE’s specialty. The pancake bites, offered in quantities of three or six, come stuffed with sweet fillings like Nutella or blueberries, and savory options, including bagel and…
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