Bloom Cafe owner Christine McMeekin hands customer Joe Russo a latte. The cafe building began its life as a farm market 50 years ago.

ADAMS TWP — The third generation of a longtime farming family has repurposed her grandfather’s farm market into a cafe with an agricultural theme.

Christine McMeekin, a 2005 Mars High School graduate, recently opened the Bloom Cafe in the former Hawkins Farm Market building on Route 228.

The small building first saw activity more than 50 years ago, when McMeekin’s grandfather, the late Matt Hawkins, began selling crops grown on his farm off Harbison Road in Middlesex Township. It was moved in the mid-1980s from its location on Route 228 near Harbison Road to its current home beside Quality Gardens.

The move was made when McMeekin’s father, Tom, built Quality Gardens. His wife, Elizabeth, is Matt Hawkins’ daughter.

Christine McMeekin has been considering the idea of turning the family farm market into an ice cream, specialty coffee and sandwich shop for some time.

“Within the last year, we got the wheels turning on it,” she said.

The renovation of the building began in November after the 2014 farm market season ended.

“I think my grandpa would be very excited and supportive,” McMeekin said of Matt Hawkins. “It’s sad that he and grandma aren’t here to see it.”

She said produce will continue to be sold in the fall, outside of the cafe.

McMeekin, now of Pittsburgh, said she wanted to bring a slice of the city’s independent coffee houses to the Adams and Middlesex areas.

“They’re warm and inviting, and they make people want to gather,” she said.

The shop complements her parents’ nursery and greenhouse next door.

“In Europe, garden centers have food and coffee,” McMeekin said. “I’m finally at the age where I can step up and put my stamp on the business.”

While she now serves specialty coffee made from beans supplied by a Pittsburgh roaster, ice cream crafted by a couple in Meadville, and local pastries, the menu will include sandwiches, salads and light breakfast items beginning Mother’s Day weekend. “It will be a small, rotating menu,” McMeekin said.

Information on the cafe is available at www.quality-gardens.com.