Following last week's trial run, Pearls Place, the Merimbula cafe that will serve hot meals to those in need, threw open its doors on Wednesday, May 20.
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Pearls Place is run from Wandarrah Lodge, Fishpen where lodge owners, Wayne and Betty Tuckfield offered the premises for the three month, once-a-week trial.
Ross Williams, chairman of the Reaching Out Foundation and driving force behind Pearls Place approached Mr and Mrs Tuckfield after an earlier proposal to use the Uniting Church fell through.
After the opening on Wednesday, Mr Williams was delighted with the response and with the work put in by volunteers.
He said: "We had a great first day with 12 clients. I was very happy and may I say, proud to be connected with our amazing volunteers."
Pearls Place has been set up by the Reaching Out Foundation with the community as volunteers. It uses the model of both Monty's Place, Narooma and Ricky's Place, Bega.
Mr Williams said: "Word must be getting out because I was contacted by someone form Tumut who heard about us."
In the meantime there is also interest for a similar cafe in Jindabyne and Cooma, Mr Williams said and expressed a hope that there could be an Eden cafe.
Celebrity chef, Paul West of the River Cottage series was at last week's trial run and has expressed his strong support for the project.
