Founders' Food Hall and Market expected to open Friday

The food hall and market in the Founders Hall building in Charlottetown is close to opening after aprevious delay.

The Founders' Food Hall and Market expected to open Friday will have more than 20 vendors and plans to be operational year-round, with reduced days in the winter.

Port Charlottetown, the organization responsible for the project, originally aimed to open the market on Canada Day.

CEO Mike Cochrane said in June there were delays because of a busy construction season.

"Of course we all wanted to be open for the summer season, but with every great project comes delays," said Joanne MacMillan, customer relations and tenant services manager with Port Charlottetown.

"We wanted it to be open and be a 'wow factor'. We didn't want to piecemeal it for the sake of just opening."

Vendors like Donna MacLeod, of the Happy Potter pottery studio, and Lee Clark and Jordan MacPhee of Green Fork Local Food, thought the delaygave them a bitmore time to prepare.

"It just allowed us to do a lot more planning," said MacPhee. "It's better to take your time and do things right than to rush things."

The market will also have demonstrations and interactive experiences.

Vendors will take turns in a demo kitchen, and theHappy Potter will be offering paint-your-own-pottery sessions.

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