Market on South doubled its vendors last year and continues to serve the local vegan community.

By Charlotte Skipper | on December 29, 2023

When the tenants of Market on South, Valhalla Bakery and Dharma Southern Kitchen moved out in April, it seemed like the popular vegan collective located at 2603 E. South St. might be gone for good.

But a resurgence came in June, in the form of four new vendors working together to enhance the Orlando vegan community while using sustainable practices and supporting dozens of local small businesses.

Market on South now consists of Vegan Scoops, Retro Roast, Main House Market and The Kind Cleaver. Customers can grab a hearty sandwich, wash it down with a craft kombucha and take home a slice of cheesecake for dessert without eating a single animal product.

Yeneisy Lopez, co-owner of Vegan Scoops, said the four businesses first knew each other through pop-up markets and retailing with each other before reviving the beloved collective.

Were all vendor friends first, Lopez said.

Along with its fully vegan menu, Market on South aims for sustainable practices. Jamie Jarlson, co-owner of the sustainable coffee shop Retro Roast, said customers can receive discounts by bringing reusable cups or by joining a glass jar program, keeping the glassware their drinks come in and returning it (or reusing it) at a later date. She said with vegan foods and sustainable practices, it all works toward a better environment.

It all really ties together with the sustainability aspect, Jarlson said. They all work hand in hand, and I just want people to see that here.

Brandon Wood, owner of Main House Market, uses Market on South as a home for vending fresh kombucha, beer and wine. He said although he doesnt strictly adhere to a vegan diet, he appreciates working in a collective that can introduce him to new foods and improve his own lifestyle in different ways. For people who claim themselves as carnivores, Wood urges them to consider the ways a vegan substitute may be just as tasty.

The meat doesnt have any flavor alone. What you flavor it with is what gives it the taste you love, Wood said. We add in those flavorings and spices to give it the taste you would want, and theres actually more protein in it than just a piece of chicken.

Even with traditionally unhealthy foods like ice cream and baked goods, Lopez said making a better version allows more people with various diets to enjoy an outing to grab a treat. However, she said that even with a vast number of options for vegans, the Orlando vegan community still has room to grow.

I think its strong, but it hasnt reached its peak yet, Lopez said. I know big things are coming though, and I think it will help the vegan community to be even more exciting and have more options available.

More:

Doubling up - The Community Paper