Hugs Cafe, 224 E. Virginia St., opened Oct. 13 and has garnered national attention since for its unique concept: create an inviting place of training and employment for adults with special needs while aiming to provide dignity, self-worth and developing respect in the community.

Tracy Self, volunteer coordinator, said Hugs Cafe is doing well.

“In just six weeks after opening, our teammates have learned their jobs so well that we have gone from needing six job coaches to four job coaches per day,” he said. “The self-confidence, the self-esteem and the smiles on the faces of our teammates just radiates throughout Hugs Cafe.”

The relationship between the job coach and their teammate is strong.

“Our guests have come from Chicago, Midlothian, Houston after seeing Hugs Cafe on TV,” she said. “We are a destination cafe.”

224 E. Virginia St. 469-301-6900 www.hugscafe.org