Catapult Coffee & Studio Reopens In Uptown Saint John
SAINT JOHN – Catapult Coffee & Studio reopened uptown on Tuesday after closing down at the beginning of the pandemic lockdown in March.
The cafe is a social enterprise and part of Outflow Ministry, which also runs the nearby Outflow Men’s Shelter and training programs for marginalized and underemployed Saint Johners. The coffee is supplied by Beamers Creek in Hampton and the items for sale in the studio are produced by people in the Outflow programs.
When Covid-19 arrived in March, the cafe closed and the shelter shifted to become a 24/7 operation, which houses 30 beds and three meals a day for 18+ men.
“All of the efforts of the organization went to making that happen and continuing the meal program that we do,” said Miriam Westin, Catapult Coffee & Studio’s manager. “We serve somewhere around 600 meals per week for folks in the community. It used to be all sit down meals, but now it’s takeout.”
“It has been difficult in some ways, but at the same time I’m super grateful for the frontline staff that works there to keep the place operating smoothly and providing a really great place for the guys,” said Jayme Hall, Executive Director of Outflow Ministry.
With the cafe closed and all efforts going towards the operation of the shelter, Outflow’s social enterprise construction company, Catapult Construction, did renovations on the cafe and studio and it stayed closed longer so they could be completed.
“We were planning to do those renovations, but they just kind of kept being put off, so it worked out while we were closed to start getting some more time in there,” said Westin.
Catapult Coffee & Studio’s workers were laid off at the beginning of the lockdown. However, Westin says some former employees were able to get jobs elsewhere, with Catapult reopening with a staff of three and a possibility of more hires down the line.
Westin said they have put in a fireplace and plan to expand into an area at the back of the building.
“It’s just making the space in the back usable, so in the upcoming months we’re hoping that we’ll be able to start expanding back there.”
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