MIDDLESEX COUNTY

Special workers learn job skills at Pop-In Cafe

The Pop-In Cafe gives special needs' adults job experience

Susan Loyer
@SusanLoyerMyCJ
  • The nonprofit business was opened last month at Brunswick Square Mall.
  • The business was opened by township residents Dr. Steven Bier, a radiologist, and his wife, Dr. Barbie Zimmerman-Bier, a developmental pediatrician, who works with autistic kids and those with disabilities.
  • The couple was looking for a way for their son, Samuel, a high-functioning autistic, to gain real-life work experience, while having a sense of structure in his life and a sense of purpose.
  • The cafe soon will be selling popcorn at the transportation centers in the township.

EAST BRUNSWICK - Samuel Bier and other special young adults are getting real work experience while learning new skills with the help a nonprofit business that opened last month at Brunswick Square Mall.

The Pop-In Cafe, operated by Let's Work for Good, serves mouth-watering deli sandwiches, bagels, coffee and its most popular draw — homemade popcorn that features a variety of flavors, including chocolate, caramel and even jalapeno. But, what sets the business apart is that it is run primarily with the assistance of autistic adults, as well as others with special needs

The business was opened last month by township residents Dr. Steven Bier, a radiologist, and his wife, Dr. Barbie Zimmerman-Bier, a developmental pediatrician who works with autistic kids and those with disabilities.

The need 

The couple was looking for a way for their son, Samuel, a high-functioning autistic, to gain real-life work experience while having a sense of structure in his life and a sense of purpose, Steven said.

Samuel, 25, spent about five years working at ShopRite stores in East Brunswick, Ewing and Clark. His duties included returning carts, bagging groceries and later returning unwanted items to the shelves. But he soon got bored and wanted more.

"They tried to have a big heart and help out, but they are limited to what they can offer," Steven said.

Steven Bier, left, and his wife have started Pop-In Cafe at Brunswick Square Mall in East Brunswick. It is a non profit business that sells bagels, subs, and popcorn. It is run primarily by young adults with autism, including Bier's son Samuel, pictured with his dad.

Last November, Samuel's parents opened a popcorn store at Freehold Raceway Mall. When they lost the lease, they soon settled in at their new location, formerly occupied by Subway, at Brunswick Square.

"You have to work and go on to the next level," Samuel said. "Now I'm learning more. Before I was just making popcorn and cleaning up stuff. Now I'm making popcorn, sandwiches, bagels and coffee and working the register. Hopefully soon we'll be making waffles, too. I'm very happy about this. It's great having a full-time job. It's work, but I love it."

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The unemployment rate in the autistic community is 80 percent, Steven said.

"With functioning autistic men and women like Sammy, who are really smart, the rate is even higher because the jobs they can do are really limited," he said. "There is a great need for jobs and there is a real need to have real training — not make-believe jobs — for kids in high school and college and even post-college. We're offering them real work experience."

Steven said the business has a bonus.

"We're also offering a place where they can go should they go out in the workforce and run into a problem," he said. "They can come back here and we'll work on that problem. It's really important for the neighborhood to come out and support us. One tin of popcorn is about two hours of employment for one of these men or women. There are a lot of steps involved because they're cooking it. It's all natural and made by hand."

Steven said the business currently works with about a dozen special-needs young adults at various levels, including some from East Brunswick High School. Some of the workers are paid, while others are volunteering in exchange for job experience, he said.

Pop-In Cafe at Brunswick Square Mall in East Brunswick is a non profit business at Brunswick Square Mall that provides work for young adults with autism.

"We're hoping to expand," Steven said. "We've only been here about a month and we already have a stack of names of people seeking employment."

But, he said, it's not all-inclusive.

"We also have students who are working side-by-side with the special-needs adults," he said.

As Samuel busied himself behind the counter preparing the store for opening, East Brunswick High School student Eliza Israel, 20, diligently sorted rolls, while fellow township high school student O'Dowd Settembre, 20, made coffee.

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Kristyn Mitchell, an SLE (Structured Learning Experience) instructor at the high school, said the students work at various jobs throughout the community.

"What we're working towards is their transition into life after high school," she said. "The better we prepare them to integrate into the community, the better off they will be."

Community support 

Pop-In Cafe also receives help from such volunteers as Agnes Cushing-Ruby, a chef whose daughter is autistic. Cushing-Ruby, working alongside Samuel, helps develop new flavors for the popcorn. They are currently looking into different wintry-type flavors.

"I like the pumpkin chi, caramel apple and cranbury orange," she said, adding that her motto for the holidays is "Don't bring pie. Bring popcorn."

Cushing-Ruby's daughter, Danielle Ruby, 29, is autistic. Samuel's mother is her daughter's doctor and the pair also did research together.

Cushing-Ruby did clinical research for 15 years at a medical school with a focus on autism-related medical studies.

"I really focused on what kind of future I wanted for my daughter," she said. "One of the few things my daughter really loves doing is baking. When I moved on from the medical school, I did a chef's program for 11 months with the idea I would focus on some kind of a program. I think this (Pop-In Cafe) opens the possibilities for these guys to have a wonderful life that is rewarding and actually makes them feel good about themselves. It creates a comfortable environment where they can actually succeed."

Pop-In Cafe at Brunswick Square Mall in East Brunswick is a non profit business at Brunswick Square Mall that provides work for young adults with autism.

Cushing-Ruby said her daughter soon will be joining her at the cafe.

Longtime family friend Paul Campanaro of Monroe, a retired salesman, is spending his golden years overseeing operations.

"It's so gratifying," he said. "I'm helping people. This gives disabled people an opportunity to reach goals, to feel good about themselves every day and feel like they are accomplishing something. Steven has blossomed so much. He is much more confident. He talks to people and he learned how to pop popcorn. We learned how to run a store. It's much, much better for him."

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Township Mayor David Stahl and Chief Financial Officer Lou Nealy also have been big supporters of the cafe, Steven said.

The cafe soon will be selling popcorn at the transportation centers in the township.

"They really paved the way to facilitate that," Steven said.

“Pop-In Cafe is a welcome addition at Brunswick Square and we are thrilled to have this new, nonprofit business add another dimension to our existing mix of specialty stores and restaurants," Suzy Lichter, area director of marketing and business development at Brunswick Square. "We’re pleased to support this worthy effort and hope that our shoppers will take advantage of their delicious offerings.”

Pop-in Cafe soon will be selling its popcorn online, Steven said.

Additional information about Pop-In Cafe is available on Facebook at The Pop In Cafe.

Staff Writer Susan Loyer: 732-565-7243; sloyer@gannettnj.com