New Substance-Free Social Space For Young Adults Opening In Worcester

WORCESTER, MA — A new café aiming to provide young people with a safe place to hang out is coming to Worcester.

Café Nexus is expected to open in the city at 6 Waldo St. The business's owner, Jaemin (Jake) Lee, appeared before the city's License Commission on Thursday to request a Common Victualler license. The business's license was unanimously approved.

Lee said that the café's aim is to provide Worcester's young crowd with a place that's fun and energetic while remaining alcohol and substance-free. The target market for the business is people aged 18 to 26.

Café Nexus will be a place for young residents "to find a hub between home and school or work," Lee said in the meeting.

The business plans to serve coffee and drinks, as well as some snacks.

"We want to provide a digital and social hub, where they can hang out with their friends and play some board games and some digital games," Lee said.

The café will open at the former home of two vegan restaurants in the city. Patch previously reported that Not Ya Mama's Vegan Café opened in the Waldo Street space back in 2022 after Vegan Nest closed its doors.

Not Ya Mama's is now open in Salem at 7 Church St, and the Vegan Nest operates a store in Clinton at 54 High St.

Café Nexus will be open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., and on Sunday from 12 to 6 p.m.

It's not yet clear when Café Nexus will open.

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