The story of how I unintentionally ended up selling veggies in Chinatown yesterday...
And how you can get some of the veggies today at the Cantonese opera performance event
Hey, it's Melody! Here's how I unexpectedly found myself selling veggies in Chinatown yesterday.
I went down to Chinatown to capture photos of Amy of San Lee Market (on Keefer and Gore next to Maxim’s), who’s our new vendor for our Chinatown Mini Market that’s happening today.
Amy will be setting up three tables full of fresh Chinese veggies and fruits for the Cantonese opera performance and Seniors Mini Market event today!
Doesn’t the vegetables and fruits look fresh?
Anyway, after our impromptu photoshoot, Amy apparently decided that I was trustworthy enough that she asked if I can man her shop while she goes restock vegetables.
Um…ok?
So I ended up yelling “$6 for 2 boxes of strawberries!” to anyone who would give me two seconds of their attention.
People say “Chinatown is dead and derelict”, but let me tell you this from actual experience — between tourists and even some of you, dear readers, walking by — there’s actually a lot that happens at the storefront of a grocery store in Chinatown.
For example, an uncle from the butcher store next door hurried across by holding a yellow fruit or gourd of some sort.
The truck of the fish monger around the corner, Hun Win Seafood, passed by — “Hello, neighbour!”:
While a dressed-up woman picked up a celebratory cake from Maxim’s, a son walking by with his elderly mother asked: “Mom, remember that used to be Hon’s?” in a bittersweet moment:
Heck, I even sold two boxes of strawberries for Amy:
Thankfully, Amy came back not too long after with new veggies to sell:
Check out how fresh everything looks:
And good news - You can get some of this directly from Amy today at 2-5pm at the Cantonese opera performance.
Support Chinatown’s culturally appropriate small businesses like Amy’s San Lee. With only three affordable Chinese fresh grocers left in Chinatown, it's vital to sustain these businesses as they are crucial for residents, especially the elderly, to access fresh, healthy, and nutritious groceries.
Forget T&T (owned by Loblaws), and head to Chinatown Plaza Mall to buy veggies from Amy at Chinatown Together’s Cantonese opera and Seniors Mini Market event from 2-5pm today. (Or if you can’t make it, visit San Lee on Keefer by Gore next to Maxim’s any other day.)
I mean, where else can you enjoy traditional Chinese theatre, get your palm read, pants hemmed, and conveniently purchase your weekly groceries at the same place? Cash only please!
🗓️WHEN: Sunday, June 16 2024, 2:00PM to 5:00PM
📍WHERE: Chinatown Plaza Mall - 106 Keefer Street
In additional to Amy’s groceries, the event will also feature:
Cantonese Opera by the 梨園之星 Lee Yuen Cheer Sing opera troupe
On-the-spot tailoring services from Pistachio Fashions by Ms. Zhang (Bring clothes you need fixed!)
Palm reading by Master Nyau (We heard he’s brutally honest)
Hand knit goods by Fung Poh Poh
Handmade jewelry and crafts by Swallow
Crafts & cards by Stirling (Get cards for Father’s Day!)
A massive collection of books, CDs, tapes, and vinyls from William’s Library for you to thrift