Hattie's Café, located at the site of the former Café Momus at 491 Brown Street just east of downtown Akron, will employ eight persons with disabilities.

The cafe workers are to have more responsibilities than in traditional employment roles. Many of the employees with disabilities will prepare and serve sandwiches and shakes, while others will work the register and clear tables.

Dotty Grexa, the executive overseeing the project, said Hattie's Café will pay competitive wages to people with disabilities, something that hasn't always been available.

The shop is a program of Hattie Larlham, a Mantua-based (MAN tuh way [in Portage County]) nonprofit organization that provides services throughout Ohio to more than 1,400 persons with disabilities. Its Akron location is the second café started by the organization.

The first café opened in downtown Hudson in 2006.

"We took all the aspects that worked best at our Hudson location to ensure each individual has the best possible working environment," Grexa said.

"Our goal is to give people with disabilities the same employment opportunities as everyone else," said Grexa. "Our Akron café is one more step in this process."

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