As the doors of The Andover Hub open this month for activities and programs, one of the first offerings will be an informal “Coffee at the Hub” social time on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 to 11 AM, beginning on September 5. Folks can drop in for a cup of coffee, plan to meet a friend, stay to chat with whomever they encounter about the issues of the day. Or if you need a spot for a quick meeting with a few colleagues, you’re also welcome to stop in and commandeer a table.

The Andover Hub is located at 157 Main Street, and was Andover’s old town hall, built in 1879. It was bought at foreclosure auction last October by a group of residents who hope to turn it into a community center.

The hope is that Coffee at The Hub will grow into a welcoming spot where one might work on a jigsaw puzzle, join a friendly game of Scrabble, share a poem to see what others think of it, or pick out a tune on the recently donated piano. At the moment, there’s no internet connection but that will be coming soon – perhaps along with computing equipment for public use. According to Janet Moore, one of the organizers, “Our goal is to have it become whatever folks who drop in want it to become. We’ll be listening.”

Over time and with input from drop-ins, perhaps there will be occasional announced topics for discussion or a speaker sharing information on a topic everyone is curious about. If attendance warrants it, Coffee at The Hub may expand to more days, but for starters, times were chosen that overlap with the Bone Builders program, so that after working up a sweat, participants can relax with friends for a bit.

When the group that bought the old town hall surveyed the community earlier this year, one of the needs mentioned often was for a place to “hang out” or to meet a friend for a cup of coffee. Coffee at The Hub is the first step in the direction of meeting that need. For more information about The Andover Hub, contact AndoverCommunitySpace@nullgmail.com.