New Bedford's Mirasol's set to reopen this weekend. Here's what's going on in Fairhaven.

DARTMOUTH — With the reopening of Mirasol's Cafe at Pier 3 set for Memorial Day weekend at Pier 3, the counter-order Latin American coffee spot is gearing up to open another location in Fairhaven in August.

"I think overall, it's gone really well in New Bedford," said Luis Raposo, managing partner of Mirasol's Cafe. "We figured out what the ideal time frame for us there is, from Memorial Day through a little after Labor Day. That's when the waterfront is most active, and it works perfectly for us."

This will be the third year since the 1,000-square-foot cafe opened in the former Wharfinger Building which served as a visitors center for the pier.

The cafe will be open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday to Sunday, and may stay open later during special events.

The cafe has also made some improvements and adjustments in response to customer demand and feedback from last year's season.

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"We have invested in a full espresso machine and tweaked some of the food items," said Raposo. "We will also be offering grab-and-go options on Saturdays to accommodate people who want a quick snack while they enjoy the waterfront."

One of the keys to the café's success has been its partnership with Steven Silverstein's Servedwell Hospitality, which owns the neighboring Black Whale and Whale Tail Clam Bar.

"The relationship with Silverstein's has worked out great," said Raposo, adding that Mirasol's has renewed their lease for three more years.

According to a previous Standard-Times article, Richard Romero opened Mirasol's Cafe in 2004, and Raposo took over in 2019. Born in Portugal and raised in Fall River, the UMass Dartmouth alum said he became a fan of the cafe after connecting with Romero, through a mutual friend, when he was looking to sell the business.

Mirasol's set to open in Fairhaven in August

While the Pier 3 location is seasonal, the Fairhaven Mirasol's located at 21 People's Way is set to open year-round in August. "It will have a drive-thru, outdoor patio and a full kitchen," said Raposo. "Customers will be able to get everything they can get at our other locations."

Mirasol's is also expanding its catering options.

"Now that we have our own Mirasol's van, we can offer catering services for events and parties," said Raposo. "We are constantly looking for ways to give people more options to enjoy our products."

Raposo said they are also planning for future expansions after Fairhaven.

"We are looking at other potential locations in Fall River or Rhode Island for a Mirasol's to open," he added. "It took a while to get to this point, but now we have a construction end date, and we can start exploring other opportunities."

"We hope they won't take as long as this one."

Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on twitter:@ChitwoodReports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Mirasol's Cafe set to reopen in New Bedford on Memorial Day