New food hub home to Hungry Heart Cafe and new programs to help food insecure

The Hungry Heart Cafe is open again, this time in a new space called Our Table in the Pleasantville area of St. John's. The space is also home to Food First N.L.'s market and the Avalon Food Hub.

The space brings Stella’s Circle and Food First N.L. together under one roof

Abby Cole · CBC News · Posted: Jan 25, 2026 4:30 AM EST | Last Updated: January 25

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Exterior of beige building — Hungry Heart Cafe moved from Rawlins Cross to a collaborative community space in Pleasantville. (Leila Beaudoin/CBC)

Two years after the Hungry Heart Cafe closed its doors in Rawlins Cross, it's open again in the Pleasantville neighbourhood of St. John's.

And with it is a new space aimed at reaching more people who are food insecure — Our Table. The program brings together Stella’s Circle and Food First N.L. under one roof, and had a grand opening on Friday.

Hungry Heart chef Brian Hewitt said it felt “incredible” to finally reach opening day.

“It feels absolutely amazing to be able to open up to the residents of Pleasantville and the surrounding areas to really make sure that we're filling a need that really wasn't here before," he said.

“We really want to make sure that we're offering food at a great price so that it's accessible to everybody."

Man crossing his arms in kitchen — Hungry Heart chef Brian Hewitt says it's amazing to finally open again after two years. (Leila Beaudoin/CBC)

Stella Circle's lead executive officer Laura Winters told CBC News that beyond affordable food the cafe, as a social enterprise, is hiring people who face barriers to employment.

“It's a point of entry for folks, and we hope it's a point of connection and care as well,” she said.

She said she also wants Our Table to be a space for the community.

“We want our neighbors who live in the neighborhood to come in to learn about what's happening in the community," Winters said.

Fresh food for sale

Our Table will host Food First N.L.'s market, and be a location to collect food from the Avalon Food Hub once a month.

The program is called Food on the Move. It will host fresh and affordable food markets in various locations across St. John’s, while the Avalon Food Hub sells fresh food from local vendors online.

Man standing — Food First N.L. president Josh Smee says Our Table will be also be a community centre for people to connect. (Leila Beaudoin/CBC)

“It's going to be a real centre for people to come and connect with food in all sorts of ways in St. John's,” Food First N.L. president Josh Smee said.

With food insecurity being seen as a growing challenge in Newfoundland and Labrador, Smee said it was important to create a space that makes accessing food easier.

“Folks who might be struggling a little bit can feel comfortable coming, and know that there's some supports here,” he said.

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