NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. -- George Augstell, the owner of Uncle Bill's Coffee Stop, provides beverages and snacks to guests of the recently opened Golisano Center for Community Health.
"Muffins, donuts, cakes, peanuts, pop and coffee," said Augstell.
George picks the inventory, handles the money and interacts with customers. It's the life of the boss.
"It's been really good so far. Some times, we'll be busy, talk to them and serve them some food," said Augstell, who is also living with Down Syndrome.
George named the coffee shop after his uncle William Gee, a Niagara Falls Police Department officer who died of cancer in 2013.
"I miss him a lot, he's good with people, he was the greatest uncle of all time and that's why I say Uncle Bill's Coffee Stop, not shop," said Augstell.
George set up his business through People Inc's Self-Directed Services Program, which helps people with developmental disabilities meet their goals.
"He can say, 'this is what I want to do, this is my dream, this is my goal' and then he can hire people like Eddie into place, he can say, this is how I want to expand, so we can get the right people in there to help him," said Kristen Obarka, an independent support broker.
Obarka helped George develop a budget using money from the state's Office of Persons with Developmental Disabilities.
"We're helping him market and he's going to be working on connecting with other vendors, so he can help grow his business as well," said Obarka.
George hopes that starting his business at the Golisano Center with serve as inspiration for others with disabilities.
"To help other people like me get jobs, for a coffee stop, and to help people like me," said Augstell.
George says that he hopes to open more shops in the future.