On Home Ground
321 Coffee Expands to Centennial Campus.
Just in time to welcome students last fall, Lindsay Wrege ’21, co-founder of 321 Coffee, opened a new shop on Centennial Campus. It’s the largest location to date and the latest in the company’s commitment to inclusion and community, providing meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Initially seeking warehouse space for roasting, Wrege and her team approached NC State’s real estate office, which instead saw a 321 Coffee retail location as a perfect fit for Centennial’s vibrant community. “As a student drinking Port City Java in the library, the idea of having my own coffee shop on campus seemed like a pipe dream,” Wrege says. “Now, to have a permanent presence here is huge.”
Centennial Campus was especially appealing because it would give many students the opportunity to engage with the disability community, something that Wrege sees as imperative. “When you interact with people with disabilities in everyday life, you see what they’re capable of,” she explains. And Wrege notes that having 321 Coffee on campus falls right in line with NC State’s ongoing efforts to foster inclusivity, such as the Elevate program and OnePack Empowered initiative.
The location has quickly become a hub for students, faculty and professionals. Since opening, it has hosted study groups, faculty office hours and meetings. Beyond coffee, Wrege sees the space as a means to building community. Events like The Morning Grind speaker series connect students and corporate professionals. And some 321 Coffee staff members have learned French phrases to engage with Skema Business School students, who share a building with the shop.
“What’s special about our staff is that they remember the little details — whether it’s your latte order or your kid’s soccer tournament the weekend before.”
–Lindsay Wrege ’21, Co-founder of 321 Coffee
“What’s special about our staff is that they remember the little details — whether it’s your latte order or your kid’s soccer tournament the weekend before,” Wrege explains. “Having a location where we’ll likely get repeat customers by those who work or have class at Centennial allows meaningful friendships to build.”
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