216:
190:
833:
240:
27:
274:
in the IDD community dwindled as they approached adulthood; as Wrege began to ponder college and the excitement of the future, she worried about her friends with IDD, having observed firsthand how some of them, despite earning jobs, were only given responsibilities such as cleaning bathrooms or folding laundry. She felt they were capable of doing more.
273:
Co-founder and CEO Lindsay Wrege grew up in an environment surrounded by children with IDD. Wrege worked on school projects, participated in dance and sports teams, and went on family outings and vacations with members of the IDD community. Wrege observed that the many activities available to youth
223:
321 Coffee also opened an inclusive roasting facility in
Raleigh to provide coffee for its shops as well as to local restaurants, company break rooms, and regional grocery stores. The roasting facility has a number of accessible features to allow roasters with IDD who have limited dexterity and
197:
321 Coffee expanded significantly after Wrege and Evans graduated from N.C. State in May 2021 – opening three new locations over a 12-month period. They opened their second location, an in-office café in the headquarters of Pendo in downtown
Raleigh, in February 2022. In August 2022, 321 Coffee
277:
After Wrege and
Michael Evans enrolled at N.C. State as Park Scholars in 2017, they discussed the idea of starting a coffee shop that employed people with disabilities. The pair had been inspired by Bitty & Beau's, a coffee shop with a similar mission in nearby
185:
coffee shop at N.C. State events. The first permanent location for 321 Coffee was at the North
Carolina State Farmers Market in 2018, and that location doubled its size in 2020. The original location at the State Farmers Market remains active.
224:
strength to operate the equipment – including vacuum extractors to lift the beans, batch weighers to measure out correct bean quantities, and continuous band sealers to seal the bags. These features are made possible through partnerships with
795:
725:
290:
events led to regular appearances on weekends at the North
Carolina State Farmers Market – and eventually to their first permanent location in the Market Shoppes building at that same venue.
865:
254:
Other highlights for 321 Coffee include a partnership with N.C. State
University to provide a co-branded coffee called Greater Good, an announced retail location on N.C. State's
286:. Wrege and Evans founded 321 Coffee, and with folding tables and store-bought coffee, they would bring adults with IDD to work serving coffee at events around town. Those
967:
450:
174:
when they founded 321 Coffee to provide employment opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). 321 Coffee started out as a
520:
739:
858:
255:
947:
380:
753:
957:
851:
593:
962:
952:
638:
565:
394:
551:
607:
579:
624:
202:
location – in
Downtown Raleigh. In December 2022, they opened their second standalone shop – and fourth overall location – in nearby
492:
781:
680:
408:
711:
298:
The mission of 321 Coffee is to provide meaningful employment opportunities for adults with disabilities. According to the
652:
158:, North Carolina, in 2017. As of April 2024, the company operates five retail locations and a roasting facility in the
694:
464:
303:
171:
437:"Michael Evans '21 and Lindsay Wrege '21 Selected By NC State Entrepreneurship for the 2021 Miller Fellowship"
534:
363:
322:. 321 Coffee also employs people with a large range of intellectual and development disabilities, such as
233:
207:
478:
823:
299:
279:
151:
506:
580:"321 Coffee Partners with Lenovo and EngageNC to Open Fully Accessible Roasting Facility in Raleigh"
479:"Raleigh coffee shop, 321 Coffee, run by individuals with special needs expands at farmers market"
875:
155:
147:
73:
921:
906:
203:
916:
283:
901:
653:"The over-caffeinated Triangle Coffee Bracket found a true Cinderella story as its winner"
8:
911:
843:
206:. Their rapid expansion and mission were highlighted on national broadcast television by
796:"Born out of NC State: 321 Coffee, supporting adults with disabilities in the workplace"
436:
260:
175:
666:
335:
287:
182:
159:
143:
247:
In early 2024, 321 Coffee announced the launch of a mobile coffee cart to bring its
926:
199:
767:
740:"Inno 5 under 25: Their Raleigh coffee shop makes big impact for disabled workers"
229:
228:
and EngageNC. 321 Coffee's most recent location – another in-office café at the
139:
422:
331:
110:
941:
896:
837:
594:"Relias and 321 Coffee Partner To Open Inclusive Cafe at Relias Headquarters"
319:
315:
327:
451:"Coffee shop founded by NC State students hires people with disabilities"
465:"New coffee shop staffed by those with developmental disabilities opens"
891:
625:"Brewing a Greater Good: NC State, 321 Coffee Launch Co-branded Coffee"
170:
321 Coffee founders
Lindsay Wrege and Michael Evans were freshmen at
521:"321 Coffee opens Durham location, expanding mission of inclusivity"
215:
189:
712:"Selling coffee drives a strong social impact at 321 Coffee stores"
395:"Inclusive Roastery Innovations Give 321 Coffee Liftoff in Raleigh"
248:
302:, only about 20% of adults with disabilities participate in the
768:"Persons with a Disability: Labor Force Characteristics Summary"
754:"321 Coffee on Championing Accessibility in the Coffee Industry"
726:"Special needs awareness being brought to campus via 321 Coffee"
346:
321 Coffee has five locations throughout the
Research Triangle.
239:
26:
832:
323:
225:
608:"Raleigh's 321 Coffee looks to land more corporate business"
258:, and being named "Best Coffee Shop in the Triangle" in the
178:, in 2017, and ultimately launched as a business in 2021.
873:
659:
631:
552:"Raleigh Coffee Company Opens High-Tech Roasting Facility"
814:
493:"First Look: Inside Pendo's hip new Raleigh headquarters"
124:
746:
409:"Inclusive beans, heartfelt scenes: 321 Coffee's story"
821:
619:
617:
381:"How Triangle businesses celebrate diversity on 3–21"
219:
Roasters Paul and Sophie at the 321 Roasting
Facility
681:"Building an inclusive community, one sip at a time"
782:"Celebrate World Down Syndrome Day with 321 Coffee"
760:
732:
667:"321 Coffee is serving inclusivity in Raleigh, NC"
614:
546:
544:
706:
704:
401:
968:Privately held companies based in North Carolina
939:
375:
373:
774:
695:"Raleigh's popular 321 Coffee coming to Durham"
645:
558:
541:
527:
513:
507:"321 Coffee Opens New Shop In Downtown Raleigh"
251:and beverages to offices and corporate events.
243:321 Co-Founders Lindsay Wrege and Michael Evans
788:
718:
701:
859:
639:"321 Coffee to open new location at NC State"
586:
457:
443:
429:
415:
387:
370:
198:opened its third shop – and first standalone
499:
471:
673:
566:"Raleigh's 321 Coffee Strikes Another Deal"
364:"NC State Announces 321 Coffee Partnership"
948:Companies based in Raleigh, North Carolina
866:
852:
423:"321 Coffee: A Coffee Shop with a Purpose"
268:
25:
687:
181:The initial concept for 321 Coffee was a
485:
238:
214:
188:
535:"321 Coffee featured on the TODAY show"
958:American companies established in 2017
940:
65:Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
963:2017 establishments in North Carolina
953:Coffee companies of the United States
847:
314:The name 321 Coffee is a nod towards
912:Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern
318:, which is caused by a 3rd copy of
13:
265:s "2022 Triangle Coffee Bracket".
14:
979:
806:
831:
600:
572:
356:
1:
349:
193:321 Coffee in Downtown Durham
341:
7:
309:
234:Morrisville, North Carolina
165:
45:Retail and wholesale coffee
10:
984:
300:Bureau of Labor Statistics
293:
236:– opened in January 2024.
152:developmental disabilities
55:; 7 years ago
16:American coffee shop chain
882:
154:(IDD). It was founded in
146:that employs adults with
119:
109:
99:
80:
69:
49:
41:
33:
24:
876:Raleigh, North Carolina
269:Motivation and founding
922:Two Roosters Ice Cream
907:Royal India restaurant
244:
220:
204:Durham, North Carolina
194:
138:is an American coffee
37:Privately held company
917:Southern Sugar Bakery
242:
218:
192:
172:N.C. State University
902:Royal Baking Company
742:. 14 September 2021.
453:. 20 September 2019.
76:, North Carolina, US
770:. 22 February 2024.
728:. 16 November 2017.
554:. 28 November 2023.
523:. 26 December 2022.
495:. 24 February 2022.
261:News & Observer
101:Number of employees
21:
798:. 9 November 2019.
714:. 1 November 2023.
683:. 31 January 2023.
610:. 15 January 2024.
582:. 10 October 2022.
568:. 3 November 2023.
537:. 5 December 2022.
411:. 7 November 2023.
397:. 7 February 2024.
245:
221:
195:
19:
935:
934:
641:. 23 August 2023.
509:. 17 August 2022.
336:DiGeorge syndrome
256:Centennial Campus
160:Research Triangle
144:coffeehouse chain
133:
132:
975:
927:Wakefield Tavern
868:
861:
854:
845:
844:
836:
835:
827:
818:
817:
815:Official website
800:
799:
792:
786:
785:
784:. 20 March 2024.
778:
772:
771:
764:
758:
757:
750:
744:
743:
736:
730:
729:
722:
716:
715:
708:
699:
698:
691:
685:
684:
677:
671:
670:
663:
657:
656:
655:. 16 March 2022.
649:
643:
642:
635:
629:
628:
627:. 11 April 2023.
621:
612:
611:
604:
598:
597:
596:. 18 April 2023.
590:
584:
583:
576:
570:
569:
562:
556:
555:
548:
539:
538:
531:
525:
524:
517:
511:
510:
503:
497:
496:
489:
483:
482:
475:
469:
468:
461:
455:
454:
447:
441:
440:
433:
427:
426:
419:
413:
412:
405:
399:
398:
391:
385:
384:
383:. 21 March 2024.
377:
368:
367:
366:. 28 March 2023.
360:
280:Wilmington, N.C.
232:headquarters in
200:brick and mortar
129:
126:
115:321 Ventures LLC
63:
61:
56:
29:
22:
18:
983:
982:
978:
977:
976:
974:
973:
972:
938:
937:
936:
931:
878:
874:Restaurants in
872:
842:
830:
822:
813:
812:
809:
804:
803:
794:
793:
789:
780:
779:
775:
766:
765:
761:
756:. 13 July 2023.
752:
751:
747:
738:
737:
733:
724:
723:
719:
710:
709:
702:
693:
692:
688:
679:
678:
674:
669:. 27 July 2022.
665:
664:
660:
651:
650:
646:
637:
636:
632:
623:
622:
615:
606:
605:
601:
592:
591:
587:
578:
577:
573:
564:
563:
559:
550:
549:
542:
533:
532:
528:
519:
518:
514:
505:
504:
500:
491:
490:
486:
481:. 10 July 2020.
477:
476:
472:
467:. 5 April 2019.
463:
462:
458:
449:
448:
444:
435:
434:
430:
425:. 1 March 2018.
421:
420:
416:
407:
406:
402:
393:
392:
388:
379:
378:
371:
362:
361:
357:
352:
344:
312:
296:
271:
168:
123:
102:
95:
83:
64:
59:
57:
54:
17:
12:
11:
5:
981:
971:
970:
965:
960:
955:
950:
933:
932:
930:
929:
924:
919:
914:
909:
904:
899:
894:
889:
883:
880:
879:
871:
870:
863:
856:
848:
841:
840:
820:
819:
808:
807:External links
805:
802:
801:
787:
773:
759:
745:
731:
717:
700:
686:
672:
658:
644:
630:
613:
599:
585:
571:
557:
540:
526:
512:
498:
484:
470:
456:
442:
439:. 4 June 2021.
428:
414:
400:
386:
369:
354:
353:
351:
348:
343:
340:
332:cerebral palsy
311:
308:
295:
292:
270:
267:
209:The Today Show
167:
164:
131:
130:
121:
117:
116:
113:
107:
106:
103:
100:
97:
96:
94:
93:
90:
86:
84:
81:
78:
77:
71:
67:
66:
51:
47:
46:
43:
39:
38:
35:
31:
30:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
980:
969:
966:
964:
961:
959:
956:
954:
951:
949:
946:
945:
943:
928:
925:
923:
920:
918:
915:
913:
910:
908:
905:
903:
900:
898:
897:Golden Corral
895:
893:
890:
888:
885:
884:
881:
877:
869:
864:
862:
857:
855:
850:
849:
846:
839:
834:
829:
828:
825:
816:
811:
810:
797:
791:
783:
777:
769:
763:
755:
749:
741:
735:
727:
721:
713:
707:
705:
697:. 2 May 2022.
696:
690:
682:
676:
668:
662:
654:
648:
640:
634:
626:
620:
618:
609:
603:
595:
589:
581:
575:
567:
561:
553:
547:
545:
536:
530:
522:
516:
508:
502:
494:
488:
480:
474:
466:
460:
452:
446:
438:
432:
424:
418:
410:
404:
396:
390:
382:
376:
374:
365:
359:
355:
347:
339:
337:
333:
329:
325:
321:
320:chromosome 21
317:
316:Down syndrome
307:
305:
301:
291:
289:
285:
281:
275:
266:
264:
262:
257:
252:
250:
241:
237:
235:
231:
227:
217:
213:
211:
210:
205:
201:
191:
187:
184:
179:
177:
173:
163:
161:
157:
153:
149:
145:
141:
137:
128:
122:
118:
114:
112:
108:
104:
98:
92:Michael Evans
91:
89:Lindsay Wrege
88:
87:
85:
79:
75:
72:
68:
52:
48:
44:
40:
36:
32:
28:
23:
886:
790:
776:
762:
748:
734:
720:
689:
675:
661:
647:
633:
602:
588:
574:
560:
529:
515:
501:
487:
473:
459:
445:
431:
417:
403:
389:
358:
345:
328:spina bifida
313:
297:
282:founded by
276:
272:
259:
253:
246:
222:
208:
196:
180:
176:college club
169:
148:intellectual
135:
134:
70:Headquarters
34:Company type
304:labor force
942:Categories
892:Angus Barn
887:321 Coffee
350:References
284:Amy Wright
136:321 Coffee
82:Key people
20:321 Coffee
342:Locations
125:321coffee
310:Branding
249:baristas
166:Overview
42:Industry
294:Mission
162:area.
156:Raleigh
140:roaster
120:Website
74:Raleigh
58: (
50:Founded
838:Coffee
824:Portal
334:, and
324:autism
288:pop-up
230:Relias
226:Lenovo
183:pop-up
111:Parent
150:and
142:and
127:.com
60:2017
53:2017
105:60+
944::
703:^
616:^
543:^
372:^
338:.
330:,
326:,
306:.
212:.
867:e
860:t
853:v
826::
263:'
62:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
