321 Coffee Announces New Shop on North Carolina State University’s Centennial Campus, Returning to Their University Roots
321 Coffee continues creating job opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
A preliminary rendering of the 321 Coffee - Centennial shop exterior located in the Venture Place building at NC State.
Raleigh, N.C. (August 23, 2023) – 321 Coffee, a local coffee shop and roaster that employs individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), continues to expand its inclusive workforce with plans for a new location on North Carolina State University’s Centennial Campus. Projected to open in early 2024, the newest shop will be 321 Coffee’s fifth location across the Triangle following their original shop at the State Farmers Market, a private cafe in Pendo headquarters, a standalone shop in the Bloc[83] development of Downtown Raleigh, and their most recent location in Downtown Durham.
On a mission to change the statistic that 80% of adults with disabilities are unemployed, 321’s current locations collectively employ over 50 individuals with IDD while maintaining a waitlist of over 200 individuals seeking employment. The expansion will actively enable the company to hire and develop new talent, as well as empower growth opportunities for current staff.
The Centennial Campus location will be set in the Venture Place courtyard on Main Campus Drive in a unique environment where industry and academia converge. It will feature a full coffee menu with rotating specials and light food offerings, and it will host ample indoor and outdoor seating, including a reservable conference room.
Opening a shop on NC State’s campus is particularly special to the team, as the concept for 321 Coffee was originally born on NC State’s campus in 2017 when co-founders Lindsay Wrege and Michael Evans were freshman in the university’s Park Scholarship program. While at NC State, Wrege and Evans received immense support from fellow students, faculty, and mentors that helped get the company off the ground. Since graduating in 2021, the young entrepreneurs have dreamed of opening a 321 Coffee location right where their story started.
“The opportunity to open a shop on campus is pretty surreal. As students, we spent so much time there. To be able to bring the 321 Coffee experience to students, faculty, and the business community on Centennial Campus is extremely exciting. It’s something we’ve envisioned since we started 321 Coffee. We’re super appreciative of Lincoln Harris and all the ways they worked with us to make this dream a reality,” shares Evans.
Earlier this year, 321 Coffee launched Greater Good - an officially licensed co-branded coffee with North Carolina State University that represents the shared value between 321 Coffee and NC State of working in pursuit of the greater good.
Wrege reflects, “It’s amazing how NC State has been a part of our journey every step of the way. From Talley fueling our beginning days and cohort programs helping us navigate COVID, to the larger community rallying behind us as we launched Greater Good and new locations around the Triangle, the NC State community continues to show up. Now we have an opportunity to bring it home.”
About 321 Coffee
321 Coffee is a coffee shop and roaster focusing on workforce inclusion of individuals with disabilities. Located in Raleigh, the company currently employs over 50 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). 321 baristas do it all: roasting the coffee, taking the orders, making the lattes. Together they are demonstrating the value of an inclusive business model. Launched in 2017, the company is on a mission to change the statistic that 80% of adults with disabilities are unemployed.
Interested in enjoying 321 Coffee at your home or place of business? Shop the online store at shop.321coffee.com or submit a wholesale inquiry to partner@321coffee.com.
The 321 Coffee team smiles with Mr. and Mrs. Wuf, the NC State University mascots, at the Greater Good launch earlier this year.