For 10 years, ZABS Place has welcomed shoppers into its downtown Matthews boutique. But it's who the store employs that makes a difference.

The store opened in 2014 as an offshoot of its sister organization, Friendship Circle. The international organization pairs children with special needs with neuro-typical teens for friendship. Bentzion and Rochel Groner, co-founders of ZABS Place, opened the Charlotte branch of Friendship Circle.

"We found teens that we had paired up were getting older," said Groner. "After two years, sometimes four, they were going off to college and we needed to re-pair their special friend with a new teen friend."

Editor's note: "Special friend," in this case, is being used to refer to a person who lives with special needs.

ZABS Place sells a variety of items including clothing, shoes, furniture, household items, books, and more. | Photo by CLTtoday

Before ZABS, many special needs teens were limitedin their job opportunities. But not anymore.

"We believe everybody is unique and has purpose," said Groner. "Just because one person isn't seeing somebody's purpose and potential doesn't mean somebody else won't."

It's that belief that led to the creation of ZABS Place. The nonprofit and boutique provides new purpose to store items and its employees, or Talents in Training.

"As soon as I started working and as a couple of weeks passed, I felt like I was a new person and it felt really good," said Hannah Rosenboom, a proud Talent in Training.

The Zabspreneur program allows the community to create a sellable product and sell it in store as a "Special Micro-business." | Photo by CLTtoday

How does it work? ZABS offers employment training for teens that have graduated high school. The teens are empowered to utilize their talents for the professional world.

"We change the environment and make it more possible for people to focus on what people can do instead of focusing on what they can't," added Groner.

Editor's note: This City Editor recommends checking out the boutique (100 N. Trade St., Matthews), furniture store, and support the local artists featured on the "ZABSpreneurs" wall.