Plant Street Market vendors expecting large crowd for Saturday's grand opening

WINTER GARDEN — A new concept in downtown Winter Garden will make its official debut Saturday, May 9, when the Plant Street Market hosts its grand opening, featuring free tastings, giveaways, demonstrations and brewery tours, all set to a full day of live music.

Each of the 21 vendors is participating in the grand opening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will remain open the rest of the day. The street parallel to the market will be closed during the event, which starts at 10 a.m. and continues until 9:30 p.m.

Folks who want to see inside the brewery can sign up that day for tours at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 and 1:30 p.m.

Outside, children activities will include games such as corn hole, giant Jenga and giant Connect 4.

Suzanne Scott, Plant Street Market coordinator, said this new collection of businesses is “a destination for local, sustainable, all-natural, handmade and artisan products that supermarkets do not sell.”

All of the businesses will be open by Saturday. They have signed three-year contracts and are eager to greet the public. 

There is already a waiting list of businesses wanting to open at the market, Scott said.

The market’s partners — Andy Sheeter, Robert Scott and Jared Czachorowski — had a vision of what they hoped this new venture would look like and knew they wanted a collection of small businesses that would complement the community, not compete with any of the merchants in downtown Winter Garden.

“We just wanted to be a part of what’s already there,” Suzanne Scott said. “In doing so, we created a merchant list of what we thought would work really well in the community and tried to create ‘what your heart desires’ all under one roof.”

The result is 21 unique shops and food stops. The small kiosks or booths that run along the east side of the long, narrow building are open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday; the rest are open seven days a week.

Axum Coffee, Euro Bake World, The Juice Bar and the LOCAL Butcher will open at 9 a.m.; David Ramirez Chocolates, Wandering Wonton and 5 Thymes 5 open at 10 a.m.; Crooked Can Brewing Company and the LOCAL market wine bar open at 11 a.m.

Tables and chairs run the length of the market outside; dog bowls offer water to parched pets.

Residents will get much more than a shopping experience at the market. Suzanne Scott said there will be many community events, such as classes for painting for adults and children, make-and-take jewelry and nutrition. The facility can also be rented for special occasions like birthday or graduation parties, and cocktail receptions can be held in the brewery.

Scott is expecting a large crowd Saturday — and she’s ready for it.

“Everyone has been so welcoming,” she said. “The city and the community have been so amazing.”

WHAT’S IN THE PLANT STREET MARKET? 

Crooked Can Brewing Co.

Built upon the founders’ passion for craft beer, Crooked Can Brewing Company is an upstart craft brewery whose goal is to represent a unique image and create a cultural following. The brewing process is monitored under the close, personal attention of an award-winning, experienced brewmaster to ensure the vision is reached batch after batch. The brewery has an onsite tap and tasting room featuring four flagship brands, in addition to many other limited-edition, seasonal and specialty batches.

the LOCAL Butcher and Market

This butcher offers premium, hand-cut-to-order meats that are prime, choice and dry-aged. Also available are all-natural red meats, exotic meats, all-natural chicken, turkey, pork, lamb and homemade sausages; plus grass-fed beef, organic meats and American Kobe Waygu beef. 

The staff will guide shoppers in everything from choosing the right cut to providing cooking instructions and recipes. Sandwiches are all prepared to order and include hot and cold signature sandwiches plus a variety of made-to-order paninis, heroes and wraps. They are made from in-house, slow-roasted beef, chicken or turkey or freshly sliced deli meats and cheeses from Boar’s Head.

A wine bar with many options is also available. Have a glass, order a bottle or take a bottle home.

Wandering Wonton

This new eatery is owned by Sarah Khem, a health-conscious, versatile culinary artist. This specialty shop features her most popular dish: wontons. There will be an array of wontons that will change daily, plus Asian-inspired grab-and-go goodies such as banh mi sandwiches, kimchi, soups, curries and fresh spring rolls.

The Cookery

The Cookery, owned by Sandra Segismundo, features fresh-from-Florida products made by Garlic Joy of Melbourne. Products are 100% natural, gluten-free, sugar-free and dairy-free and have no preservatives, including pasta sauces, garlic spreads and several Mediterranean specialties. Products are made by garlic lovers for garlic lovers.

Euro Bake World

This is an authentic village bakery specializing in European-style breads and pastries that are handcrafted and made fresh with minimal processing. There is an extensive menu with more than 100 different items on rotation, including a variety of croissants and pastries, breads and rolls, pretzels and cookies and custom cakes and cupcakes. Euro Bake World is a family-owned-and-operated business with master baker Denny Gruendner at its helm.

Market To Table Cuisine

Created by Chef Ryan Freelove, it brings the quality ingredients and products found in professional kitchens to the home. Offerings include Demi-Glace and truffle butter, small-batch vinaigrettes, brines and marinades, along with inspiring products, tools, recipes and techniques.

Chef Ryan Freelove started his career in Central Florida on Park Avenue at Lavensia Café. He learned from some of the top chefs in the area at locations such as Victoria & Albert’s at the Grand Floridian, The Ritz Carlton Orlando and the Peabody Orlando.

5 Thymes 5

A full menu with gourmet farm-to-table cuisine is featured here and has everything from wings, burgers, hotdogs and chicken to gourmet dinners with salmon, tuna, steak, pork chops and rotisserie chicken. And it’s all local, all natural and hormone-free.

Press’D Juice Bar and Kitchen of Winter Garden

This family-owned vegan/vegetarian juice bar and cafe specializes in fresh cold-pressed juices, custom smoothies, breakfast bowls, wraps, a daily fresh soup, salads, raw chocolates, snacks and healthy desserts. It also offers juice cleanse packages pressed fresh daily. Press’D is a scratch kitchen where everything is made fresh on-site and easily customized to patron preference. Ingredients are sourced organic and from local farms, whenever available.

Axum Coffee

Axum Coffee has a 12-kilogram roaster at its second location to allow owners to develop their own roast profiles and have control over the process from green bean to cup. Beverages served at the roasting location will showcase quality coffees and include espresso drinks (cappuccinos, lattes and Americanos) brewed coffees and manual brews.

The Sacred Olive

A second location is opening to offer unique blends of olive oils, vinegars, spices and other specialty foods to assist in healthy cooking, as well as gift items.  

AntiquiTEAs

The menu at AntiquiTEAs tea shop will offer many varieties including green, white, black, oolong, rooibos, tisanes and herbal infusions. There are organic and decaffeinated options, too. Tea is sold by the cup or to brew at home by the ounce. There are also tea accessories and Florida-sourced honey, marmalades and jelly.

The Pop Parlour

This treat shop uses local, all-natural and organic ingredients to make handcrafted flash-frozen pops. It uses real fruits, vegetables, herbs and other high-quality ingredients. 

David Ramirez Chocolates

This chocolatier keeps alive the tradition of fine, artisan chocolates using the highest-quality chocolate from France, Switzerland and Belgium. Macaroons and gelatos are also on the menu.

Coconut Clean and The Fast N’ Furriest

Its mission is to make the world smell and feel better, naturally, while existing in harmony with the environment. Products are crafted with the innumerable benefits of organic virgin coconut oil in mind and are vegan-friendly and biodegradable. All soaps are cold-pressed and from scratch, including foaming soaps, shampoo and body cleansers. There are nine signature aromatherapy lines, and all have been tested on friends and family, never on animals, the owners say.

Collective Kindness

Soy candles are created and hand poured by a mother and daughter team in Windermere. They use 100% U.S.-grown soybean wax mixed with premium, phalate-free fragrance oil and use natural cotton wicks. Their candles are featured in unique, reusable containers: 99% recycled glass from Spain, vintage and antique teacups, vintage advertising tins and modern ceramic and tin containers.

The mission of this young company is to spread the seeds of kindness through the Kindness is Priceless Project. This “For Purpose” arm of their company uses revenue from the sales of their products to fund kindness projects. Each quarter, they feature and support a different local organization through volunteering and giving back.

WoodStone Jewelry

It provides unique jewelry, hand-painted porcelain, painted bottle lamps and mixed media cards that are original, local and handmade.

Demonstrations on jewelry-making will take place at the booth, and personal pieces can be crafted. This location also will repair costume jewelry.

O2 Breathe

Owners say this oxygen bar will give patrons more energy and relief from pain.

Petal Pushers Market And Events

This booth provides fresh flowers and unique gifts, including merchandise from 3 Amigos and offers complete wedding planning and coordination.

Spa Affair

Products are offered to assist in health and wellness, such as Do Terra essential oils, nutritional supplements, bioscan readings and chair massages.

Our Nation’s Creations

This shop features unique goods that are handcrafted in America, including T-shirts, artwork and games.

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Contact Amy Quesinberry Rhode at [email protected].