The Gathered Table MN

The Gathered Table MN Globally inspired soups and stews served with purpose. A space to gather, connect, and feel at home in MN. Comfort. Culture. Connection. www.thegatheredtablemn.com

Welcome to The Gathered Table—a place where food brings people together and community is always on the menu. We’re an aspiring brick-and-mortar restaurant and gathering space rooted in Bloomington, MN, with plans to offer a soulful menu of soups, salads, and sandwiches that reflect and celebrate Minnesota’s rich cultural diversity. But we’re more than just good food. The Gathered Table is a warm,

welcoming third space created to help people seek comfort, build community, and connect with one another. Whether you're sharing a meal with friends, joining a community dinner, or simply stopping in to enjoy a peaceful moment—you’ll always have a seat at our table.

Sometimes life writes a different ending than the one you imagined.Over the past few weeks, many of you have probably no...
07/19/2026

Sometimes life writes a different ending than the one you imagined.

Over the past few weeks, many of you have probably noticed that things have been quiet here. The truth is, our family has been navigating the unexpected passing of my mom. She was my biggest encourager, and losing her has changed the direction of our lives in ways we never could have anticipated.

As we help settle her affairs, our family has made the difficult decision to relocate to Illinois to be closer to family.

That means it’s time to say goodbye to The Gathered Table MN in Minnesota.

It’s hard to put into words what these past six months have meant to us. What started as a simple idea, to bring people together over a bowl of soup and came with momentum because of this community.

You welcomed us into your homes and your lives. You supported us through Hatch Bloomington, showed up for our gatherings, helped us serve hundreds of free bowls during Free Soup February, and cheered us on as WCCO & CBS News Minnesota and KARE 11 shared our story.

Every order purchased, every conversation shared, every kind word… it all mattered more than you’ll ever know.

Bloomington has been home in more ways than one. Beyond The Gathered Table, I’ve had the privilege of serving this community through Bloomington Public Schools, working on transportation and infrastructure projects like Nicollet Avenue and Nine Mile Creek Renewal, and participating in the City’s Learn to Lead program. This community has shaped me just as much as I hope I’ve contributed to it.

To everyone who believed in this little dream: thank you.

You reminded me that community isn’t built by a business. It’s built by people who choose to show up for one another.

Over the next week or two, we’ll be clearing out our remaining inventory. If you’d like one last quart (or a few!) before we move, send us a message. We’d love for our final soups to find their way to the tables that helped make this dream possible.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for giving us six unforgettable months.

Wherever life takes us next, a part of The Gathered Table will always belong to Bloomington.

With gratitude,

Jaylen Lyles
Founder & Head of the Table

Six months ago, The Gathered Table MN started with a simple idea: use food to bring people together.Since then, we’ve se...
05/29/2026

Six months ago, The Gathered Table MN started with a simple idea: use food to bring people together.

Since then, we’ve served soup, shared stories, met incredible neighbors, hosted events, learned a lot, and experienced more support than we ever imagined. For that, we are deeply grateful.

As many of you know, our recent community event didn’t go quite as planned. We poured our hearts into it, but sometimes even with hard work, media coverage, advertising, and the best intentions, things don’t unfold the way you hope. That’s part of being a small business.

Because of that, we’ve decided to take a summer hiatus.

Over the next few months, we’ll be taking a step back to reflect on what has worked, what hasn’t, and what the next chapter of The Gathered Table might look like. We don’t have all the answers right now, and truthfully, we’re not sure exactly what the future holds. What we do know is that this journey has been meaningful, and we’re thankful for every person who has been part of it.

Thank you to everyone who ordered soup, attended an event, shared a post, donated during Free Soup February, nominated a neighbor, stopped by to say hello, or simply believed in what we were trying to build. You helped turn an idea into something real.

Before we press pause, we’ll be holding a June freezer clearance sale. Be sure to check out our website, we still have a limited supply of frozen quart soups available for $16 each, while supplies last.

If you’ve been meaning to stock your freezer or support us one more time before our break, now is the time.

No matter what comes next, thank you for being part of this journey. The Gathered Table was built on the belief that food can create connection, and you’ve shown us just how true that can be.

With gratitude,

Jaylen Lyles & Family
The Gathered Table

🍲🤝 Gather & Grow + Live & Learn at The Great Gathering | A Community Building Experience 🤝🍲At the heart of The Great Gat...
05/01/2026

🍲🤝 Gather & Grow + Live & Learn at The Great Gathering | A Community Building Experience 🤝🍲

At the heart of The Great Gathering is what happens when we sit down, share a meal, and truly connect.

We’re excited to introduce Heidi Corcoran, founder of The Rustic Charm, who will be facilitating our Gather & Grow experience. 💛

Guided by the principles of ikigai—the idea of finding purpose through what you love, what you’re good at, and what the world needs, Heidi brings people together through the ancient craft of sourdough. Each week, she thoughtfully creates limited drops of heritage grain loaves, rooted in intention, care, and connection.

At the event, Heidi will help guide meaningful, low-pressure conversations using curated prompts, creating space for people to gather, reflect, and grow together over a shared meal.

✨ Live & Learn will be facilitated by yours truly, The Gathered Table, bringing in our Soup & Story Spotlight, where each dish carries a story and reflection prompt to deepen connection even further.

Come experience it with us.

🔗 Learn more about Heidi & The Rustic Charm: therusticcharm.com

With the weather looking like a beautiful 67° this Saturday, we’re taking The Great Gathering | A Community Building Exp...
04/29/2026

With the weather looking like a beautiful 67° this Saturday, we’re taking The Great Gathering | A Community Building Experience outside too 🙌

We’re excited to open up the playground space for kids and families to run, play, and enjoy the day together. Whether you’re swinging, laughing, or just soaking up the sunshine, there’s space for everyone to connect and unwind.

Inside, you’ll find hands-on activities, community experiences, and warm, comforting soups…
Outside, it’s all about fresh air, play, and joy 🌱

Bring the family. Bring a friend. Come experience what it means to truly gather.

🎟️ Tickets: $12 adults | $6 kids
🕐 Saturday, May 2 from 1–4 PM
📍 Mount Hope Lutheran Church

Let’s make the most of this beautiful day, together. 💛

🎨 Create & Express at The Great Gathering 🎨We’re excited to introduce Katie Ross, founder of The Arts Creative. Katie is...
04/29/2026

🎨 Create & Express at The Great Gathering 🎨

We’re excited to introduce Katie Ross, founder of The Arts Creative. Katie is an artist, former art teacher, and creative entrepreneur who now specializes in large group creative activations and team-building experiences designed to foster connection and a true sense of belonging. 💛

Katie will be leading an Ojo de Dios (God’s Eye) kit activity, a colorful weaving craft where yarn is wrapped around crossed sticks to create a beautiful, geometric design. Traditionally, this piece symbolizes protection, intention, and seeing beyond the surface, making it both creative and reflective.

Katie’s work is all about bringing people together through hands-on creativity, whether it’s corporate teams, community gatherings, or events like The Great Gathering | A Community Building Experience. Her activations are designed to break the ice, spark connection, and leave people feeling more grounded and connected to one another.

If you’ve been looking for a unique, meaningful way to engage your team or community, this is a glimpse of what’s possible. ✨

Come create with us.

🔗 Learn more about Katie & her work: www.theartscreative.com

🌿 Nature & Nurture at The Great Gathering | A Community Building Experience 🌿We’re excited to highlight the Minnesota Va...
04/28/2026

🌿 Nature & Nurture at The Great Gathering | A Community Building Experience 🌿

We’re excited to highlight the Minnesota Valley Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, led by Joseph Barisonzi and an incredible crew of environmental stewards dedicated to protecting and restoring our natural spaces. 💚

At the event, they’ll be facilitating a hands-on seed bomb activity, where attendees can create their own wildflower seed bombs to plant wherever they choose. This will bring a little more beauty, pollinator support, and life into our communities. 🌸🐝

Joseph is a true leader in this space, a civic leader, educator, and systems thinker working at the intersection of community, connection, and environmental leadership. From co-chairing MN Year of Water to serving as President of the Lower MN River Watershed District, his work is all about protecting what we share and building a more sustainable future.

Through their programming, the Minnesota Valley Chapter continues to empower youth and community members to care for our environment in meaningful, tangible ways, and we’re honored to have them bring that energy to The Great Gathering.

Come get your hands a little dirty (in the best way) and be part of something that grows beyond the day. 🌱

🔗 Learn more: iwlamnvalley.org

04/23/2026

We’re doing things a little differently this month… 👀

Our Nominate a Neighbor program is still going strong, but instead of filling out a form, we want to hear from YOU right here ⬇️

Drop a name in the comments of someone in the Twin Cities who:

❤️ Has been showing up for others
🌱 Is doing meaningful work (even if it goes unnoticed)
🤍 Or just needs a little extra love and a pick-me-up this month

And here’s the important part… tell us WHY.

What have they done? Who have they impacted? What makes them special to you? What are they going through?

Those stories matter just as much as the nomination itself.

Let’s celebrate the people who make our community feel like home. 🫶

04/23/2026

We created The Great Gathering | A Community Building Experience event because people aren’t just hungry for food, they’re hungry for belonging. 🫶🏾

Come experience our Five Pillars of Community Building through hands-on activities, meaningful conversations, and a bowl of something warm.

Activities include putting together seed bombs, ojo de dio kits, engaging activities to meet neighbors, and bodywork like massages and reiki.

🍲 Soup + bread will be included
🎟️ $12 adults | $6 kids

Come as you are. Leave more connected.

We’re honored to introduce two incredible women who are creating space for you to slow down, reset, and reconnect, Laure...
04/22/2026

We’re honored to introduce two incredible women who are creating space for you to slow down, reset, and reconnect, Laurel Needham of Lily & The Lotus Restorative and Kate Kirsch of Restored Home Cleaning & Organizing. 💛

Together, they’ll be offering bodywork experiences like massage and reiki, taking a holistic approach that supports your body, mind, and spirit, while helping you intentionally reconnect with yourself in the middle of it all.

Laurel brings a deeply personalized, healing-centered approach to her work. She’s passionate about making sure every client feels comfortable, cared for, and supported based on their individual needs. With her East-West Therapeutic Bodywork certification and background in entrepreneurship, she’s built a practice rooted in trust and true restoration.

Kate’s journey started during the pandemic, helping people restore peace and function in their homes, and has since grown into a community-centered business rooted in care and connection. In addition to her home support services (like cleaning, meal prep, organizing, and more), she’ll also be bringing that same intentional energy into the bodywork space at the event, creating moments of rest, recovery, and grounding.

Come experience it for yourself at The Great Gathering | A Community Building Experience. You deserve it.

To connect with Kate and her services: [email protected]

Learn more about Laurel and her business, check out: www.lilylotusrestorative.com

We’re excited to officially introduce the incredible community organizations and facilitators helping bring The Great G...
04/21/2026

We’re excited to officially introduce the incredible community organizations and facilitators helping bring The Great Gathering | A Community Building Experience to life! 🙌🏾

Each of these partners is leading one of our five pillars of community-building, creating meaningful, interactive experiences and activities designed for attendees to enjoy:

✨ Relax & Reflect – Lily & The Lotus Restorative + Restored Home Cleaning & Organizing
🌿 Nature & Nurture – Minnesota Valley Chapter of the Izaak Walton League
🎨 Create & Express – The Arts Creative
🤝 Live & Learn + Gather & Grow – The Rustic Charm + The Gathered Table MN

We’re so grateful for their expertise, passion, and commitment to building something truly special with us. This is what community looks like. 💛

Throughout the week, we will share more about each organization and business, what activities and experiences they will be offering/providing at the event, and more about the individuals facilitating.

We can’t wait for you all to experience it.

Address

Bloomington, MN

Telephone

+16306368677

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Gathered Table MN posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to The Gathered Table MN:

Shortcuts

Share

Category