A café run by a local market at one of Burlington's top attractions has reopened after shutting down for a few months for renovations.
What is the place?
The Healthy Living Cafe at ECHO serves food from the Healthy Living market on Dorset Street in South Burlington.
The cafe inside the ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, the science-and-nature center on Burlington's waterfront, offers coffee, soup, salads and sandwiches made at the flagship store.
Food to-go:Check out the options at the new Jake's ONE Market in Burlington
In the spotlight:Burlington vegan eatery latest to get Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives treatment
The cafe also carries what John Murphy, the general manager in charge of the South Burlington store and the cafe at ECHO, calls "emergency supplies for families" visiting ECHO or the adjacent waterfront.
Those supplies range from diapers to bandages and are stocked on the shelves of the cafe, which is just inside the entrance to ECHO and open even to those not paying to visit the science center. Pre-packaged foods including snack bars and yogurt are also available.
What's the story behind it?
Healthy Living opened its cafe at ECHO in April 2018, but had to shut it down in early November for renovations. The renovations weren't Healthy Living's renovations, though, according to Murphy. He said ECHO had to close the cafe so it could make improvements to the science center's plumbing system.
Murphy said Healthy Living took the opportunity to update some of the products it carries at the café, which reopened Feb. 5. Otherwise, he said, it's business as usual at the space, which has seating for about 25 customers and, in nice weather, provides a place to grab a quick bite to eat and enjoy along Lake Champlain.
Just desserts:Miffed at Mirabelles' move? Maybe these Burlington baked goods can fill the void
The cafe combines two businesses that Murphy said share similar values, especially regarding environmental stewardship. He said Healthy Living charges 5 cents (with proceeds going to the South Burlington Food Shelf) to customers wanting to use large paper bags at its South Burlington site. Healthy Living discontinued dispensing plastic bags five years ago.
Location and information
Healthy Living Cafe at ECHO, 1 College St., Burlington. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily for full service, with limited service until 5 p.m. (802) 864-1848 (phone number for ECHO), www.healthylivingmarket.com/echo.
Do you have a new restaurant, a new brewery or a new food truck you'd like to tell people about? Maybe you want to spread the word about a new chef, a big new dish or an exciting new drink. Contact staff writer Brent Hallenbeck at (802) 660-1844 or bhallenbeck@freepressmedia.com.
This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Sign up today for a digital subscription