The Vignettes Design Series is back with a new event, this time showcasing six local businesses that will test their products and services in pop-up retail spaces at the Capital Apartments on 108th Street.
The Brick and Mortar Festival, presented in partnership with the Downtown Business Association, will include Token Bitters, which makes handcrafted aromatic bitters; Buon Giorno, a breakfast concept by the owners and operators of Black Pearl; Café Amore and Amore Pasta; and RGE RD Larder, a wine bar and charcuterie concept from the RGE RD restaurant and The Butchery.
Caitlin Fulton, co-owner of RGE RD, told Taproot that the pop-up is an opportunity to reconnect with the restaurant's roots.
"RGE RD was founded by doing dinners in unexpected and unfamiliar contexts," she said. "Before we opened our brick and mortar restaurant in the city, we existed for two years doing farm dinners and site-specific events. This is something that really reminded us of our roots and how we started, so I think it's kind of neat after this crazy turbulent year to return to that idea.
"It's also a way for us to connect with people in new ways. And I think Vignettes, their whole thing is allowing people to see spaces with new eyes through these cool design concepts."
RGE RD Larder will offer a curated selection of wine, as well as The Butchery charcuterie, Canadian cheese, beef tartare, sausage rolls, wood-oven-baked breads, Mary Manette tinned Canadian seafood, homemade pickles, and more.
And each Friday night, those attending the festival will have access to the restaurant's secret speakeasy.
The vegetarian pizza from Buon Giorno, a new breakfast concept from the folks behind Black Pearl, Da Capo, and Amore Pasta, will be part of the Brick and Mortar Festival. (Mack Male/Flickr)
Libertine Fragrance, Alexander and Rose, and Las Vintage will also participate, offering perfume, antiques, and vintage apparel respectively.
Business owners were matched with five production teams to create four different pop-up stores. According to a news release, the different physical spaces "will illustrate each production team's unique design and craftsmanship by showcasing a range of materials and design techniques while also driving sales and customer engagement."
Each year the festival aims to transform vacant, underutilized properties in the downtown core, and Vignettes has reimagined more than 100,000 square feet of space in downtown Edmonton to date.
The festival opens to the public on Nov. 23 (not Nov. 16 as originally planned) and runs Tuesday to Saturday until Dec. 11.