PRESENCE Where Culture Meets Cuisine New Bedford’s creative renaissance extends beyond galleries into its kitchens and cafés. A new wave of chefs and entrepreneurs has put the city on the culinary map with eateries that rival those in much larger cities. What makes the scene unique is its deep sense of place: local flavor, served with creative flair, often in historic surroundings. Ground Floor Coffee, which opened in 2023 at Merrill’s Wharf, blends craft coffee with community impact. Owners Jason Pepin and Melanie McCarthyPepin roast beans on-site and operate with an open, barista-facing layout that invites conversation. Through their sister company, Behavioral Connections, they provide vocational training for individuals on the autism spectrum—rooting their business in a broader mission of inclusion. 81 ROBERTPAUL.com 2025 - 2026 FEATURED ARTICLE “Hatch is more than a collection of studios—it’s a community built on generosity, collaboration, and mutual respect. Artists share tools, ideas, and encouragement. To join Hatch is to become part of a vibrant creative community.” - Melissa Jackson, Hatch Street Studios Coordinator During Open Studio events, visitors walk through the building, meet the artists, and get a real feel for the creative work happening here. The space has helped turn this corner of the city into a true arts destination. On Union Street, the Waterfront Historic Area League (WHALE) has transformed a row of rescued historic storefronts into the Co-Creative Center: a 10,000-square-foot space for art, education, and community, complete with a gallery, maker space, and apartments for artists-inresidence. The restored facades and steady activity have made it a downtown landmark—proof that old buildings can support new ideas. In 1999, volunteers launched AHA! Nights (Art, History, Architecture), a free monthly arts crawl that invites everyone into downtown’s streets and galleries. On the second Thursday of each month, downtown comes alive with music, open museums, street performers, and pop-up art. AHA! has sparked creative energy and played a role in reshaping downtown from a preserved district into a living cultural hub. The Black Whale’s harbor-side patio offers diners sweeping views of Pier 3—just steps from where much of the restaurant’s seafood is landed.
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