Posted : October 18, 2021
Our blog is chock full of great ideas for fun things to see and do in York Durham and Headwaters. We are always adding new content and updating old posts, but sometimes you might stumble upon something from our vault. If this article has inspired you to hit the road, be sure to double-check that the featured stops in this post are still welcoming visitors.
Welcome to Market & Co., a 40,000 square-foot market space in the heart of York Region’s Upper Canada Mall. If you have never been, then you’ve never seen anything like it. Market & Co. features 19 premium merchants that showcase fresh, local, handmade and ingredient-focused items, and offers a central space for hands-on learning and events. Now that public centres are beginning to open back up with safety protocols in place, we’re excited to share with you what Market & Co. has on this fall, and what you can expect when you come out to share this unique Newmarket experience.
All of the restaurants and dining options at Market & Co. are so different from one another, and each one offers its own unique experience. Whether it’s fresh, hand-shucked oysters, The OG fried chicken sandwich, homemade pasta with fresh Bolognese, or even chewy, authentic pizza—you can truly taste the chefs’ passion in each dish.
“Things are awesome in terms of our tenant mix,” says Christine Seidman, Marketing Manager for the Upper Canada Mall. There is a real sense of community and partnership between the merchants themselves.”
She adds, “We have had some really great success stories come out over the past year. Score Pizza opened during the pandemic. It’s a new concept of fresh quality pizza that’s really fast. People can pick unlimited toppings all at one price. It’s a build your own pizza lovers’ heaven, and it’s a great choice for families who are looking for a quick dinner, because everyone can have their own pizza. We have also had Kibo Sushi House open during the pandemic. It’s a great sushi restaurant that also offers popular Asian snacks.”
For those who enjoy their established favourites at Market & Co., Union Chicken and Amano Italian Kitchen have added new menu items. “If you haven’t tried them before, now is a good time to go,” Christine says. Also, Union Chicken is now proud to serve authentic cheesecake from the famous Cheesecake Factory Bakery. And, of course, there have been those tenants who have been with Market & Co. since the beginning, like Humble Roots. “They are vegan, and offer sugar and dairy free options,” Christine says. “That is really great for this time of year.”
Everyone knows that Upper Canada Mall is a great location to shop, with over 200 stores and services. But it is also a great place to eat, especially thanks to Market & Co. This is a culinary experience like no other, that mixes fresh food offerings with the tradition and authenticity of merchant-style city markets. Market & Co. is a combination of your local baker, seafood market, juicer and restaurants all rolled into one curated market. With nearly 20 artisans, merchants and eateries offering dine-in experiences and to-go options, there is definitely something for everyone. And also, Kitchen & Co. is a culinary demonstration area located in the heart of the market. It offers a fun and educational opportunity for guests to cook, create, learn and enjoy the food and ingredients offered within the market.
“The retail experience is always evolving and changing,” Christine notes. “But at the core, Market & Co. is a place for community, and brings people together through food. With any time of the year, we are looking to make Market & Co. an inviting place. People gravitate here. But the holidays are an extra-special time. We’ve had our summer display up, and are now installing a fall display to make people feel welcome in the market. We want them to take in the ambience and maybe take a photo with the great market environment we’ve got.”
Of course, with COVID-19, Market & Co. has had to pull back on its popular events in the name of health and safety. But they are eagerly looking forward to seeing what opportunities become possible as we ease into the holiday season. Seating has now been added back into the market, which has pleased both tenants and guests. “Our retailers are knowledgeable, welcoming, and they offer the best-quality products,” Christine states. “It’s a great place to visit—and maybe, just maybe, we’ll have a few other surprises coming in the new year.”
We are excited to find out what those surprises are!
Have we whet your appetite? To learn more, or to plan your visit, check out https://shopmarketandco.com/. Market & Co. is located in the Upper Canada mall, 17600 Yonge St., Newmarket.
Story by Katherine Ryalen
