It’s safe to say that it’s been a solid start for the deli and market located at 5071 E. Fifth St.
“We are super excited about the part we get to play in helping our community make tasty choices that are better for themselves as well as the animals and the planet,” said Tanya Barnett, owner of Midtown Vegan Deli and Market.
The corner near Rosemont seems to be on an uptick of new local businesses, too, much like the soon-to-be Houlden’s Rise Above vegan bakery.
So far, Barnett and the rest of the crew at Midtown Vegan Deli have been shown a ton of love and support from the community, and for those who have paid a visit, it’s been a treat sifting through the meat-free selections.
“We have the cooler section with the freezer section and the goal is to kind of have everybody’s favorite stuff so that they can come and have a one-stop-shop experience,” said Barnett. “Then we have the deli in the back. So, we have the full restaurant and we’re doing a play on a traditional deli — like the meat and the cheeses.”
“The best part has been seeing all of the meat-eaters fall in love with menu items like The Philly, Game-Changer Grilled Cheese, and the Loaded Buffalo Chicken Fries.”
Local supporting local
They’re doing a nifty job at keeping things local, too, and partnering with businesses like Bemmy Snacks, Sweet Revenge Baking Co., Tucson Tempeh, Green Heart Bakery, My Rawsome Foods, Houlden’s Rise Above, and Sparky’s Cantina.
Keep an eye out for even more local products as time goes on inside the building, which is a structure that’s witnessed a long history of deli-seeking visitors.
“This building was Feig’s Kosher Market & Deli since the 70s and everybody was excited to have another deli come into place,” said Barnett. “They’re really open to the vegan food and they’re enjoying the staff. It’s just been a great experience so far overall. For all your meat-eaters out there, come on in and give us a try.”
An expanding menu on the horizon
They have a breakfast menu in development as well.
Barnett is currently working on the growth of the team and when the time is right, a full breakfast menu will be available. Meanwhile, they’re rolling out certain breakfast items as teasers or sneak peeks — the T-Town Breakfast Burrito, for example. The wrapped delight is filled with a tofu scramble, Soyrizo, home fries, cheddar, and green chili.
“Our goal is to help show mediators that they can eat a vegan meal and enjoy it —reduce their impact on the planet,” said Barnett. “You’re also helping out with the animals. Just eat a better type of food and enjoy it without causing any harm to anybody.”
They’re currently open 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sunday, and closed on Monday.
Midtown Vegan Deli and Market is located at 5071 E. Fifth St. For more information, follow them on Facebook or visit midtownvegandeli.com.
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Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
