Food vendors excited about opportunities at the new Wellington Market

The Wellington Market opened its doors to the public on May 27, offering offer what they described as something that evolves the culinary scene in Toronto.

The Wellington Market falls under the umbrella of The Well, which is a seven-building multi-story complex consisting of retail space, office space and condos, located in downtown Toronto at the corner of Front Street and Spadina Avenue.

The Wellington Market currently hosts 38 vendors but is expected to grow to 50 soon, and is a mix of both long-term permanent vendors and short-term pop-ups.

One of these pop-ups is Sauce Frens, a collaboration of three different sauce brands, including Lost In The Sauce, a hot sauce company owned by Karthy Subramaniam.

Subramaniam said the busy atmosphere of The Well offers more opportunities for them to showcase their brand.

"We're in a prime location in Toronto, there's Fort York behind us, there's Spadina in front, all the condos around us, that gets a lot of foot traffic," Subramaniam told Humber News at the Wellington Market's VIP preview night on May 29.

He also said that he sees the unique design of the Wellington Market and allows more eyes on his business in the summer months.

"All the window panels will be open in the summer, so it's basically going to be an outdoor patio atmosphere throughout," Subramaniam said.

"That opportunity in and of itself is amazing for a small business like ours where it gets a lot of prominence and visibility," he said.

Sampathreddy Rache, who runs the Pokeworks franchise location in the Wellington Market, said he shared the same view as Subramaniam in that the Wellington Market's design itself provides vendors with a

He said it's more than just a food court, pointing out the inclusion of a bar and a more social and party-conducive atmosphere with a bar and oftentimes live DJ sets.

"It's better and different," Rache said when comparing it to other Pokeworks locations within the region.

In an official press release from The Well, it said the market aims to "celebrate the best of Toronto's diverse culinary options."

Oliver Harrison, the senior vice president of leasing and tenant experience at Rio Can Real Estate Investment Trust, a partner organization on the Wellington Market project, said the market is a significant milestone.

"We are excited to share this evolution of the Toronto food and drink scene and have everyone experience it in their own unique way," Harrison said.

And other vendors like Dustin Gelman, who works at the Rosie's Burgers location, said that spaces like this are not common.

"It brings a whole new demographic, I think just being right downtown, in terms of the corporate tower right above us," he said.

"It feels very community-forward in a spot like Front and Spadina, which I think is hard to find," Gelman said.