A new coffee shop with a mission has opened in the Arts District in downtown Las Vegas.

“I love it; it’s amazing,” said Travis Graves, a new employee at Dig It! Coffee Co. “It’s like a dream come true working here.”

The mission of Dig it! Coffee Co., located at 1300 S. Casino Center Blvd. in the Share Downtown Building, is to close the unemployment gap for people with disabilities and create an environment of kindness and inclusion.

Taylor Gardner Chaney, the founder and owner of Dig it! Coffee Co. says she hires people with disabilities and strives to create an inclusive and positive environment.

“We want people to come to work and make competitive wages and just have a good time while they are working and being included in the community,” Chaney said.

The driving force behind all Taylor does is her sister Lindsay.

“She is one of my favorite humans,” says Taylor. “She was born with down syndrome and is my inspiration.”

Inspired by her sister, Taylor founded The Garden Foundation, a Vegas nonprofit that helps adults with disabilities.

Dig it! Coffee Co. started as job training for people served by the foundation.

“We started pushing a coffee cart through an office building,” says Taylor. “And four and a half years later, here we are, and it’s really just to create opportunities for my sister and her peers.”

Dig It Coffee Co. serves coffee from local family-owned roasters Sin City Coffee for its extensive coffee menu. The menu also includes a list of inventive drinks.

“I think the bath water, it’s one of my favs because you get a duck with it,” Travis said. “I love the bath water; it’s one of my favs!”

Bath water is on the list of lemonades, and there’s also a variety of “Magical Matcha” drinks and pressed juices, along with pastries, sandwiches, and charcuterie boards from local businesses Whiskful Thinking Cakes, Shey’s Kitchen, and The Custom Confectionary.

“Our people just want to feel purposeful; they want to feel like they have value, and we provide that here,” according to Cheney. “Dig It! is not just for people with disabilities but for everyone. We want everyone to have a positive environment to work in.”

The environment matches the bright personalities of the staff with vibrant, inviting colors, a disco ball, and an uplifting vibe you feel right as you walk in the door.

“People love it at Dig It!” Travis said. “They are really happy here and love the atmosphere.”

Dig It Coffee Co. is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Source: LASVEGASNEVADA.GOV