321 Coffee Hosts Grand Opening on 12/3 of New Storefront in Downtown Durham, Expanding Job Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities
321 Coffee Continues to Grow, Bringing Mission of Inclusion to Durham
Taryn and Travion are all smiles as 321 Coffee prepares to open the doors in Durham on 12/3.
Durham, N.C. (November 30, 2022) - 321 Coffee, a local coffee shop and roaster that employs individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), is expanding its inclusive workforce from its Raleigh base to its first location in the heart of downtown Durham. The new shop will be located at 300 Morris Street, as a part of the Durham Innovation District developed by Longfellow Real Estate Partners. It will feature a full coffee menu with rotating specials and light food offerings and be open seven days a week.
The Durham community can gather on Saturday, December 3rd, at 9:30 AM for the Grand Opening and ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate 321’s mission of inclusion while enjoying a great cup of coffee, recently recognized by News and Observer as the best in the Triangle.
On a mission to change the statistic that 80% of adults with disabilities are unemployed, 321 Coffee currently operates 3 locations in Raleigh including its original shop at the State Farmers Market, a private cafe in Pendo’s headquarters, and its first standalone shop in downtown Raleigh that opened earlier this year. The company currently employs over 50 individuals with IDD and maintains a waitlist of over 100 people seeking employment. The Durham expansion created new barista and cashier positions on 321’s team.
Lead barista Emma Wissink says, “I’m proud to see growth in myself and in our company. I’ve been here since 2017, the very beginning, and I’m proud to be contributing to a team that is growing. We are able to grow because the community is supporting us, so thank you to everyone who is promoting inclusion and a diverse workforce.”
321 Coffee baristas (left to right) Thomas, Travion, Ishan, Emma, and Anthony pose for a picture.
The company was founded in 2017 by Lindsay Wrege and Michael Evans, Raleigh entrepreneurs and recent alumni of NC State. The two started 321 Coffee together out of their college dorm rooms, and since then Raleigh has been an incredible home for 321 Coffee. What started as pop-up coffee stands on folding tables at various local events has grown to become a well-loved and steadfast staple in the community. Wrege, Evans, and the whole team are excited to open their doors in a new city to continue to spread awareness for disability inclusion, serve delicious coffee, and leave customers feeling uplifted and caffeinated, eager to come back and soak up more of the inspiring atmosphere.
“Durham presents an awesome new opportunity for 321 Coffee. We will reach a whole new part of the Triangle, giving us the ability to employ more people and have more customers enjoy the great product our team creates. We can’t wait to open!” expresses Evans.
Wrege shares, “I’m especially proud of our team for this huge milestone of expanding our presence to a new city. In 2022, we will have grown from 1 to 4 locations, and this has been made possible by our team stepping up, coming together, and working really hard. This doesn’t happen because of one person; this is truly a team success.”
321 Coffee is particularly excited to be part of the Durham ID neighborhood, where Longfellow is cultivating a sense of connection between tenants, residents, visitors, and neighbors.
Longfellow said in a statement, “Our team is thrilled to welcome 321 Coffee to our Durham ID campus at 300 Morris Street. One of the core values at Longfellow is to partner with local companies and organizations to help create a true live-work-play atmosphere at our developments; and there is no better mission-driven company than 321 Coffee to bring their life-changing organization and philosophy to downtown Durham.”
About 321 Coffee
321 Coffee is a coffee shop and roaster focusing on workforce inclusion of individuals with disabilities. Based 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, and 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.
About Longfellow Real Estate Partners
Longfellow Real Estate Partners is a real estate investment company founded in Boston, Massachusetts in 2009. With over 200 employees in bio-innovation clusters across the US and UK, Longfellow partners with renowned universities and pioneering life sciences and technology companies to help bring visionary ideas to life. Driven by a passion to support those working to advance the human condition, Longfellow continues to grow and expand in the name of scientific progress. For more information, visit https://lfrep.com.