Since it opened for business in October 2015, The Grind Pembrokeʼs Coffee House has been a haven for marginalized, low- to no-income adults walking the streets of the downtown core. The concept for The Grind was the brainchild of its executive director, Jerry Novack, who, as an OPP officer, witnessed the hopelessness in the faces of people within this population segment who had no safe space in which to relax, socialize or obtain a cup of coffee within a non-judgemental atmosphere. The Grind Coffee House is a comfortable, trendy space equipped with comfortable seating, serving and eating areas, Internet stations, a childrenʼs play area and stage.
The facility is open to the public daily Monday to Friday from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm; service is provided at no cost, but if clientele can contribute they do so. In 2017, the Coffee House hosted over 10,000 people, serving over 9,700 cups of coffee, not including other hot and cold beverages and pastries and donuts donated by a local business. The Grind Client Services Office was opened for business by early summer 2017. Now, Coffee House clientele and homeless clients accommodated in the Refuge who wanted help could be referred by volunteers to professional staff housed in the Office. Novack says the facility is an entry point for those in our community who are hurting and are having difficulty navigating the health and social service systems to get the help they need.