The Kent Street Market, located in the Confederation Court Mall, exists to offer the community a downtown grocery store, says Kim Searle, manager. “It’s for people who live downtown to have a place to shop, for folks to pick up some items on their way home from work, for those staying in the various hotels and Airbnb’s, for anyone downtown shopping who happens to find us.” More and more, she says, the Kent Street Market is becoming a destination shop for people. This is key for Searle, who believes in the importance of keeping a “Main Street” of small local businesses. “We are lucky to have them in Charlottetown. I think a local grocery store is a huge part of a healthy, vibrant downtown,” she says. The market aims to have everything one needs to create healthy, mouthwatering meals from scratch; fresh fruit and local, organic, seasonal vegetables, as well as essential grocery products such as dairy, grains, beans, etc. If you’re pinched for time (as many of us often are these days), it also offers frozen meats and meals that can be taken home and become a quick lunch or supper. The market also strives to accommodate special diets when possible, and so shoppers will also find many vegan, gluten-free and organic items at the market.
And all those impossible-to-find products—chutneys, olives, tapenades, mustards, and pickles—that can often only be found online? You’ll find them here. “It’s nice for folks to have those options, especially in a place the size of Charlottetown. Given that small businesses like ours survive on foot traffic, we’re in the business of making sure our customers can find what they want here and are open to their suggestions.” Those working downtown — or those having a quick picnic lunch while shopping — appreciate Receiver Coffee Co., which delivers fresh bread, prepared sandwiches, salads, and baked treats during the week. Tea and coffee to go from Receiver Coffee Co. and Lady Baker’s Tea is also available. And in the summer, guests can cool off with gelato. Come the winter months, they can warm up with daily soup from Redwater Rustic Grille. “We try to support local as much as possible,” says Searle, “and at this point, have approximately 40 local suppliers. To know and support our local suppliers is huge; the products they bring to us are of excellent quality and we are proud to have them here.”
Street Market and was taken away by this small, corner grocery store that seemed to have everything she wanted. Since moving here in 2018 and taking over as manager last year, she’s tried to maintain that fine balance of having local goods and specialty items that shoppers cannot find anywhere else on the Island. “I want the Kent Street Market to be that place for others,” she says. “I am fortunate to have the best staff, and I believe that together, we have created a community store here on Kent Street. We have our regulars; people we know by name, know their family stories, where their people are and what’s new in their worlds. And we’re so pleased to meet the newbies too, when people discover our small shop and are super excited to see what we have. The music is always on, the coffee is hot, and the laughter is loud.”
Kent Street Market Confederation Court Mall 136 Kent St, Charlottetown 902.367.2197
When Searle visited Charlottetown in 2017, she happened upon the Kent
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