Waco Coffee Shop to Change Ownership in Mid-November
The transition includes rehiring existing staff to maintain operations at the 110 Franklin Ave. location.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Bitty & Beau's Coffee will close its Waco location at 110 Franklin Ave. on Nov. 12, 2026. Non-profit organization Friends for Life will immediately take over the site to open Loyalhood Coffee in mid-November.
Why it matters
The transition demonstrates how business continuity and staffing retention can be managed during ownership changes through mission-aligned non-profit integration. Owners should note how absorbing existing teams into structured training initiatives can maintain operational consistency during a brand handover.
The location at 110 Franklin Ave. has served as a cafe for five years and will maintain daily operations from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. under the new management. Friends for Life is leveraging its 37-year history to support the transition.
The players
Bitty & Beau's Coffee
A coffee franchise focused on inclusive employment that has operated in Waco for five years.
Friends for Life
A social services organization with 37 years of experience supporting seniors and adults with disabilities.
Loyalhood Coffee
A brand founded seven years ago that will operate the coffee shop under a non-profit employment initiative.
The details
Friends for Life is absorbing the coffee shop operations as part of its Employment Readiness initiative, which pairs staff members with job coaches to develop transferable professional skills. The incoming operator, Loyalhood, will rehire the existing staff from the closing franchise to ensure continuity. The current ownership is retiring to travel following the closure.
Timeline
Nov. 12, 2026: Bitty & Beau's Coffee ceases operations.
Mid-November 2026: Loyalhood Coffee opens at 110 Franklin Ave.
Market Landscape
This transition aligns with industry standards for workplace inclusion, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act employment inclusion standards. The move signals a broader trend toward non-profits leveraging physical retail footprints to provide vocational training and professional development.
Operators planning a business exit should evaluate how rehiring existing staff through an incoming entity can preserve institutional knowledge and culture. Focus on vetting potential buyers or partners who prioritize your current team's employment readiness and development.
The takeaway
Business owners looking to retire can maintain their legacy by transferring operations to mission-driven organizations that sustain current employment structures. Monitor the operational transition in mid-November to track how job coach integration impacts service speed and employee retention metrics.
Further reading
For more on local business transitions, explore the Waco Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kwtx.
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