New Bedford Restaurant Gets a Long-Overdue Facelift

If you’ve passed by Tia Maria’s European Café in downtown New Bedford recently and wondered if the beloved spot had closed its doors or was undergoing major construction, there's nothing to worry about.

The building isn't being torn down, and the café is still very much open for business.

Owner Jessica Arruda is simply giving the historic 1825 structure some long-overdue love.

“I'm replacing all the rotted wood on the front facade,” Arruda said. “The building is from 1825 and needed lots of love. When it’s all finished it’ll look exactly the same but hopefully I’ll never have to touch it again in my lifetime. It lasted 200 years, so I guess it’s not that bad.”

Courtesy Jessica Arruda

The restoration work focuses solely on the front exterior of the café, preserving the original architecture while ensuring it stands strong for years to come.

Again, this was nothing more than curiosity as I drove by on the cobblestones, mildly panicking that one of the staple Portuguese breakfast and lunch spots in New Bedford was calling it quits.

Phew!

Despite the visible construction, the café remains open and welcoming to customers. Whether you're stopping by for a coffee or one of their signature Portuguese pastries, rest assured the charm and service you love haven’t gone anywhere- just the rotting wood.

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Gallery Credit: Gazelle