By the time Miller Molnar was 18 months old, his mother, Kim Molnar, knew something wasn’t right. The delays in his development culminated in an official diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder when he reached 3 ½ to 4 years old.
As a licensed speech pathologist, Kim knew about the need to develop a life-long plan for Miller’s care and education. At the time, resources and clinics serving the developmentally delayed weren’t as prevalent as they are now.
She brought him for testing to a pediatric neurologist at the University of North Carolina and to a renowned autism specialist at Vanderbilt University. She read articles and books at night, searching for the best treatment plans for Miller, including early intervention, speech therapy, occupational therapy, verbal behavior therapy, applied behavior analysis, relationship development intervention and pivotal response treatment, among others.
The years of trial and error produced not only a plan for Miller, but Kim developed a passion for helping all developmentally challenged children. As her husband, Karl writes, “She has become an advocate for special needs kids, a mentor to therapists, and a consultant to teachers and parents statewide.”
In February of 2023, Kim and Karl opened Miller’s Brew Coffee Shop (https://millerscrew.com/millers-brew-coffee-shop), a non-profit coffee shop staffed by Miller’s Crew (https://millerscrew.com/), the part of the organization that trains special needs students the skills needed to hold down a job. Over 50 teenagers and young adults a week circulate through the Miller’s Crew training, with 35 on the waitlist. Miller’s Brew coffee shop is the training ground. The café’s tagline is “purpose in every cup.”
“We believe God gave Miller to us,” Kim said. “Our purpose has never been more clear.” Kim knows why Miller is here and what her purpose is: “To teach and train young people for families like ours.”
Kim remains grateful that the autism specialist she saw at Vanderbilt offered her guidance throughout the challenges she and Karl faced raising Miller. At one point, he told her she would need to “teach him.” The way he phrased it or the way she heard it prompted a mind shift in her. She began to teach Miller in the way he learns: visuals and lots of repetition. Once he got it, though, he retained it. This knowledge remains one of the top things Kim looks for in the people she hires to help train. First, they need to see the kids not as a diagnosis, but as people. Nobody keeps track of who has which disorder. Second, the trainers need a knowledge of cognitive ability, how people learn and retain information, and be able to teach in a style that works best for each individual.
The young people cycle through the training in groups of eight. They stay on the job for however many hours each can handle, some an hour, some an hour and a half, some three hours. Wednesdays are reserved for intensive training.
The kids handle the daily operations of running a coffee shop: they greet customers, run the cash register, count back change, make coffee, milkshakes and smoothies, wash dishes, prepare cups and sleeves and assist the baristas. The only task that is limited by ability is the espresso machine because of the 180-degree temperature involved. Sometimes the day’s training focuses on social skills that fully adapted people take for granted, like reading a customer who might be standing expectantly before a crew member. Were they greeted? Was their order taken? Are they waiting to pay? Sometimes the training might be about the appropriate personal appearance for work.
The unemployment rate for developmentally challenged adults is 87 percent. Kim wishes more places of employment would hire these young people, but she understands that it takes hard work, patience and extra training to get one of Miller’s Crew members up to speed at an establishment. She mentioned that one trainee has worked at a Jersey Mike’s Subs for three years. That is because the wife of the owner of that particular franchise is a speech therapist who understands the commitment necessary to make such a hire work.
Approximately eight months ago, Cumberland County officials approached the Molnars to see if they were interested in running the cafe that was built into the West Regional Branch Library at 7469 Century Circle. The intent was to have the café staffed by disabled individuals, but since 2010, the space remained unoccupied. What Miller’s Brew does costs money and requires lots of good people; it’s not a money-maker the way a profit-driven operation might be. This space is perfect.
“It’s just been waiting for us all this time,” Kim said.
The Haymount location (1401 Morganton Road) is labor-heavy presently as they train staff for the opening of the expansion location in February. The same branding, brightly colored murals and décor of the original location will be replicated at the library café.
The Molnar’s' two other sons, Guy, the eldest, and Davis, the youngest, know that as their parents age and pass on, they will care for Miller. The boys arrived at adulthood with a deep understanding that not everyone is the same. They can either embrace challenges or slip into self-pity. It’s better to join into the philosophy of helping others be better, Kim said. She exudes a quiet faith.
“We live right.”
So, she doesn’t talk much about when she prays or when she doesn’t. She and Karl simply live their devotion to God by their example and by being in God’s purpose for their lives. Obviously, the community senses this because they are supportive of the Molnar’s’ efforts with their faithful visits to the shop.
“It helps that we have good coffee,” Kim said, smiling. “But we don’t have to say much or be loud about it.”
The best compliment she gets is when someone comes in the shop, observes what’s going on, and says, “Oh, I see what you’re doing here.”

(Photo courtesy of Kim Molnar)