News

Jan 05, 2024

Peabody's Breaking Grounds Eyes July Reopening After May Fire

PEABODY, MA — Breaking Grounds, the Peabody cafe that serves Northeast Arc

PEABODY, MA — Breaking Grounds, the Peabody cafe that serves Northeast Arc members with disabilities and sustained extensive water damage during a May fire, could reopen in about a month with a "new look" and "same great coffee."

Operators of the cafe, which helps members learn valuable employment skills, provided an update this week that construction on "Breaking Grounds 2.0" is underway and that they are targeting a mid-July reopening.

"The goal is to lighten up the space while creating even more flexibility and comfort in seating," Breaking Grounds posted on its Facebook page.

"a long banquet to provide comfortable seating, chairs made from recycled bottles, and a counter height table so you can better see the happenings on Main Street while sipping your favorite beverage."

Operators said Create & Escape, DIY, will recreate the tabletop stenciling that "create Instagram-able moments and add some fun to the space.

Renditions of the new-look cafe can be found here.

Operations said they will plan a grand reopening celebration when a date can be determined.

The apartment building fire closed Main Street for a time on May 10 and displaced more than 30 residents of the building.

Those wishing to donate to Northeast Arc to help the Breaking Grounds Cafe programs can do so here.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)