A Little History of Mifflin’s Tea Room

This house, built in the early 1900’s, is where my grandparents lived with their two children (twins), our father Cyril and our Aunt Vina who were born in 1918.

Our grandmother ran a lunch room in the late 30’s and through to the late 40’s at this very location. She served homemade soup, sandwiches and desserts with tea. During its time, it also served as a candy shop, the town’s first pharmacy and an electrical shop.

Grandmother also sold aprons that she would make herself. Back then vehicles were limited and the roads so bad that the main source of travel was by train. My brother Fred told me a story of how he used to go with her on the train to St. John’s. They would stay in a hotel, for a few days while she purchased material for the aprons and supplies for the lunch room. This picture is taken in 1947, of my grandmother standing in the front doorway of this room with my brother Roy in her arms. 

Here is a picture taken in the late 30’s of our grandmother’s sister Nanna, who lived next door in one of the three family homes that have now all been deemed historic.

Accompanying my grandmother is a family friend, Ron Tulk. Although this is the original location , the building was reconstructed in 2009- 2010 with the addition of the washrooms and patio. After several years of planning and researching, the family wanted to bring the lunch room back to life by opening a memorable place where you can enjoy a light lunch or just a cup of tea with friends.As our family is musically inclined, we have tried to create a relaxing atmosphere by playing a variety of old time, easy listening music along with a few traditional Newfoundland tunes. We hope you take time to look at the old pictures of Bonavista and some family pictures taken on the property. It gives you a sense of what it was like back then in this home where my mother and father raised nine children. We hope you enjoy your visit in the Bonavista area and that you will come back soon!

– The Mifflin Family