Triangle Coffee Shop surprises shoppers with free drinks ahead of Thanksgiving
RALEIGH, N.C. — Shoppers gearing up for Thanksgiving got a heartwarming surprise Tuesday when local coffee company 321 Coffee gave out free coffee and lattes at Whole Foods stores in the Triangle.
The event celebrated the opening of 321 Coffee products at Whole Foods stores. Coffee carts driven by company employees brewed free drinks, attracting customers during the holiday rush.
321 Coffee co-founder Lindsay Wrege called the expansion a major milestone for the company, which she founded as a freshman at North Carolina State University in 2016 with a simple vision.
“This expansion means a lot to us,” Wrege said. “The more places we sell our coffee, the more opportunities people have to buy it. That allows us to roast more coffee and, most importantly, hire more people.”
321 Coffee’s mission is unique—it’s a coffee shop and roastery that employs people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Over the years, the company has grown from humble beginnings to a well-known local business.
“We started with a folding table and a coffee machine at Target,” Wrege recalls. “Now, to see our products in Whole Foods is incredible. It shows how far we’ve come as a team driven by our mission of inclusion.”
The company currently has 60 team members, but has a waiting list of more than 500 eager to join. Wrege says this demonstrates the growing need for meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
321 Coffee now operates three locations in the Triangle and continues to expand its reach, building a supportive community in the process.
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