Nonprofit coffee business reopens after coronavirus, gets free makeover

Nonprofit coffee business that supports jobs for people with developmental disabilities, like down syndrome, reopens after coronavirus on Friday.
Posted 7/10/2020, 10:57:07 AM

IT TOOK THREE SURGERIES TO

SEPARATE THEM.>>> NOW, A WRAL

MORNING ORIGINAL, NEW REPORTING

FIRST AT 6.

>> A NONPROFIT COFFEE BUSINESS

IS BACK ON HIS FEET AFTER COVID-

19 SHUTDOWNS ON THE EMPLOYEES

ARE VERY EXCITED.

WE EXPLAIN HOW THEY ARE EVEN

EXPANDING.>> Reporter: TWO

YEARS AGO, 321 COFFEE BEGAN

WITH FUNDRAISING EVENTS.

THE BUSINESS EMPLOYEES ADULTS

WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

AND DOWN SYNDROME.

THEY WERE EXCITED TO OPEN UP

THE SMALL SPACE OF THE STATE

FARMERS MARKET WITH HOPES OF

EXPANDING.>> AND THEN COVID-19

CAME AND EVERYTHING TURNED ON

ITS HEAD.

>> Reporter: MANY EMPLOYEES ARE

AT HIGH RISK FOR COVID-19 SO

321 CLOSE DOWN TEMPORARILY AND

A NEIGHBORING SHOP CLOSE

PERMANENTLY WHICH GAVE 321,

MORE ELBOW ROOM.>> I DON'T KNOW

IF WE WOULD HAVE COME ACROSS IT

IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE PANDEMIC.

WE ARE REALLY EXCITED

>> Reporter: THE DESIGNER

DONATED A NEW VIBE.

>> WE WANTED THE PLACE FOR THEM

TO SIT TO TALK AND ENGAGE.>>

Reporter: WE HAVE THEM RESTING

THEIR OWN BEANS NOW.

>> THIS IS GREAT FOR US.>> WE

WANT TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY

HAPPY.>> Reporter: THE TEAM

STAYED CONNECTED BUT SOPHIE

WONDERED IF THEY WOULD EVER GET

BACK TO COFFEE.>> I AM GLAD IS

UP AND RUNNING AND I GET TO

WORK WITH MY FRIENDS.

>> Reporter: OR THAN ANYONE

ELSE, THEY MISS THE

EXCITEMENT.>> INTERACTING MORE

WITH THE COMMUNITY IS WHAT 321

IS ALL ABOUT, ANYWAY.>>

© WRAL