Last summer, we told you about a new culinary market coming to the intersection of Douglas Road and Grand Avenue. And now MKTplace at Goombay Plaza (3685 Grand Ave), West Grove’s first development in decades, is finally ready to welcome customers.
While the official opening date isn’t until 2018, MKTplace launches a biweekly pop-up series this Saturday at 3pm. Dubbed Taste of MKTplace, the four-hour event gives locals a chance to sample food from potential vendors—think conch fritters, smoked meats and Caribbean-inspired sweets. It’s also an opportunity for the neighborhood’s street-food staples to give the market business a try, as the culinary lineup is expected to change with every installment. (We’re keeping our fingers crossed for Grand Avenue’s Mango Man’s BBQ to make the cut.) Food and drink, plus live music from a local Caribbean-reggae band, will also be on hand at Saturday’s event.
Once open, the integrated marketplace will comprise five modified shipping containers (made possible with funding from the Knight Foundation) and house seven established vendors. The end goal is two-fold: provide affordable space for neighborhood entrepreneurs and give an underserved area of Coconut Grove a much-needed gathering space.
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