It is also a community hub where anyone can visit and know they are welcome and cared for.
A week after it opened on Hereford St, manager Maree Wilson said there has been a mixed bunch of customers, from multi-generational families to tradesmen and businessmen in suits.
Many of them even offered to “pay it forward” to other people.
"People love to give," Wilson said.
"So we’ve been lucky that people have been so generous, coming in every day and wanting to pay it forward to help people."
So far, the cafe has received positive comments from the community for its services and affordable prices.
The two popular items are $2 store-made sausage rolls and a $7.50 full cooked breakfast.
Its $4 pies are also a hit with 20 pies being sold out every day.
"In the morning, we do all the fresh baking.
"We have another team off-site making all of our pies and sausages rolls. The only thing that we’re buying right now is the little vegan, keto cake."
However, the cafe makes little-to-no profit from the in-demand rolls.
This was because Christchurch City Mission wants to keep the prices as low as possible to provide everyone with access to food and a cafe experience.
The project all started three years ago when Wilson decided to approach the former city missioner Matthew Mark to discuss her idea of starting a social enterprise cafe.
It was something Wilson wanted to do after working in the hospitality industry for more than 27 years.
"I then started working at City Mission within a few months," Wilson said.
"It was just me. We had a little pop-up cafe and we then employed our first staff within six months."
At the time she also worked in multiple projects at the organisation, including the food bank and men’s night shelter.
Then new redevelopment work on Hereford St early last year offered the cafe an opportunity to relocate to a larger space.
While the building was under construction for about 18 months, Wilson and the team were focusing on the planning process.
As the project progressed, local businesses started to donate money to go towards equipment and furniture.
Wilson told The Star she is proud of the work that everybody has done.
"I’m excited that it’s happening. Hopefully we can make a difference in people’s life.
"It’s a safe environment for everybody. It’s welcoming, non-judgmental, open, friendly and fun.
"We want people to come and feel like they’re part of us."
"If somebody needs help and they come here first, they might build the confidence to go across the road to ask for help, for food parcels, and for social workers’ help," Riley said.
He joined the project when the construction first started.
While Riley is responsible for managing multiple social enterprises of the organisation, he would jump in the kitchen and help if needed.
Said Wilson: "Tim is very supportive. Very good at washing the dishes."
An internship programme at the cafe next year is also in the planning stage.
This, along with a queue out the door, are Wilson’s ultimate goals.
"They can learn about customer services, they can also do barista. We can even train them to a chef as well with external services like Ara," she said.
