ROANOKE, Va. – One Roanoke café, known for serving up sweet treats and smiles, is getting recognition from the community.
On Thursday, the Roanoke Regional Chamber announced Chris’s Coffee & Custard as the recipient of their 2022 Small Business Inspiration Award.
They were chosen as the recipient of the Inspiration award, which was created to recognize small businesses with exceptional stories, Roanoke Regional Chamber President & CEO Joyce Waugh said.
“Our Small Business Celebration Committee unanimously chose Chris’s Coffee & Custard for this award, and they hit a home run,” Waugh said.
Chris’s Coffee & Custard, created by Beth Woodrum, is located in Roanoke, and provides employment opportunities for young adults with special needs, the chamber said.
Beth’s son, Chris, has Down Syndrome. She had a dream for Chris and others in the community, according to the chamber.
“There’s got to be someplace for our young adults with special abilities to be able to work,” Woodrum recalled during a 10 News in a Tasty Tuesday interview in April.
Woodrum told 10 News on Friday she was pleased to see positive feedback in the community.
“It was amazing and when we got that phone call, I couldn’t believe it,” Woodrum said. “I was so honored and humbled and just so thankful that we were able to do a job that here and work with the special abilities community and be able to serve our community.”
Woodrum said more work is in progress, and they’re hosting a Christmas in early December, called “Chris’ Cocoa and Cookie with Santa.”
You can learn more about Chris’s Coffee & Custard here, and you can see their location below.
These other businesses also won awards on Thursday night, according to the chamber:
- 2022 Non-Profit People’s Choice Award: Good Samaritan Hospice
- 2022 For-Profit People’s Choice Award: Olde Salem Brewing Co.
- 2022 Best New Small Business: Oya Construction