The Wilkes Commercial Business Center, completed in 2023, was designed with a clear mission: provide modern, scalable industrial space that helps companies launch, expand, and create jobs in Wilkes County. Today, the 31,700-square-foot facility is fully occupied and already delivering measurable results.
The project was made possible through a collaborative funding effort Wilkes EDC facilitated that included securing $1.5 million from Golden LEAF’s Community Base Grant Initiative, $1.9 million investment from Wilkes County Government, and contributing $139,000 from Wilkes EDC/LEAP (Local Expansion Attraction Program). These investments are now generating tangible economic momentum through the success of its two tenants, Java Master and Prism Medical Products.
Java Master Expands Production, Distribution, and Engineering
Since locating in the facility, Java Master has rapidly grown its footprint and capabilities. It now serves as the sole supplier of specialty coffee and related products for all 50 Boxcar cafés inside Lowes Foods stores across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Five additional café locations are scheduled to open in 2026.
Beyond café supply, Java Master also distributes its branded Boxcar coffee to approximately 90 Lowes Foods grocery locations, giving the private-label brand full shelf presence across the chain.
Growth continues operationally as well. Java Master has:
- Added second and weekend shifts
- Increased staff to 11 employees, with plans to hire 2 to 3 more in the next six months
- Installed a new coffee roasting system to improve efficiency
- Relocated its headquarters and engineering department to North Wilkesboro
With engineering now onsite, Java Master can assemble coffee roasting machines directly from the facility for customers nationwide. The operation further strengthened its technical capacity by hiring an engineering student from Wilkes Community College to support and operate its engineering department, demonstrating the value of local workforce partnerships.
Java Master also relocated its entire green coffee distribution operation from Michigan to Wilkes County, establishing the local site as its national shipping hub for customers ranging from Pennsylvania to California.
Prism Medical Products Growing Operations and Workforce
Prism Medical Products is also expanding operations inside the business center. Prism is exploring pilot programs for new product lines while investing in equipment and upgraded storage infrastructure.
Recent additions include:
- Multi-level racking systems designed to maximize warehouse ceiling height
- A new electric reach forklift for improved inventory access
Employment at the facility has reached 14 workers, with the potential to add 6 to 10 additional positions within the next year.
Prism operates as part of Henry Schein Medical following the global healthcare company’s acquisition of a majority ownership interest in Prism in 2021. Continued investment and operational growth in Wilkes County reflect the facility’s ability to support companies that are scaling production, improving efficiency, and preparing for future expansion.
A Facility Designed for Momentum
The success of both tenants underscores the purpose behind the Wilkes Commercial Business Center. The facility provides flexible, ready-to-use industrial space that allows companies to expand quickly without the delays associated with new construction.
With two growing employers, new jobs, capital investment, and national distribution activity now operating from the site, the center is already demonstrating a strong return on investment for the community and its funding partners.