Center Cafe Opens

Last week the dream of a neighborhood Cafe on this busy corner was finally realized ! As written about in earlier posts - the Cafe gets its vibe from modern frugal simplicity and the local residents and visitors who fill it. Sometimes jokingly referred to as the Serenity Cafe - its being called the "Center Cafe" - being in the center of the building (aka "center bay") , center of the peninsula, and a center for life. Open morning to night. See www.center-cafe.com

Local artist Nick Melo is displaying eight paintings, our coffee is Equal Exchange, our ice cream comes from Bliss Brother's Dairy, and the menu offers "real food". Three neighbors keep things running unbelievably smooth. The challenge of this entire project is now expressed in this goodness. The role of experienced design in business development should not be underestimated (read more at alternativearchitecture. Thank you "eco" New Bedford.

Sustainability at the Cafe

Sustainable Operations at the Center Cafe include:

- serving on dishes
- keeping all recyclables out of the trash
- composting all vegetable waste & coffeegrounds
- using passive cooling (continuous ventilation, shading, thermal protection)
- beverage cooler shuts off overnight

During Fitout

- construction trash continued to be sorted

- excess materials from previous work was put to use

- a cast iron sink was reused

- two vintage chairs reupholstered.

- selectively purchased used equipment and fixtures

- continued to buy local

New Local Plumbing Contractor!

Although the Cafe space was finished over the winter to convey the possibility for opening this business, approval from the Board of Health required upgrades to the existing plumbing. Many of the contractors who have worked on this project, feel like part of a team who recognize one another and together do the finest work. Medeiros Plumbing and Heating just happened to be dropping into the Quik Mart, when this project needed a reasonable local plumber to complete the Cafe.

Reusing this vintage sink is just one example of how well the work was completed.