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Following the highly anticipated first announcement, Shannon Martinez’s new vegan food hub has launched in Collingwood. Smith & Deli is the first to open in the new space with the restaurant to follow in the coming weeks. The launch also marks the first release of Martinez’s new homewares collection, Smith & Home.
The new venue will be one of the biggest vegan hubs in the world, with dining, a large production kitchen, groceries, a deli providore and an elevated restaurant housed under the one iconic roof. Cambridge Street will feature everything everyone knows and loves about Smith & Daughters and Smith & Deli, but with reimagined designs and features.
Shannon Martinez comments “I really want to give vegan dinning the glamour it’s been missing. People will be overwhelmed by the size, it’s definitely the biggest food hub in the country. I have been wanting to up the ante for some time and while I was sick I had the time to think about these changes. The new space is all the things I’ve wanted to do, now they’re coming to life.”
The first to open in the new space, Smith & Deli is inspired by European deli’s and will become the local shop in the neighbourhood offering take-away and quick meals at affordable prices. The entire storefront is visible through the floor to ceiling glass façade with equal views of the connecting kitchen. There, consumers can see the chefs make produce, pastries, meals and desserts by hand, with real ingredients.
Listening to consumers’ requests, the new location offers Smith & Deli dining for the first time with 30 seats, long tables in the middle of the room and high benches with stools across the windows. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the deli provides affordable meals for those on their way to work, way home or those looking for an affordable quick bite.
A main feature of the space will be the cafeteria style serving station, whereby consumers can purchase a Deli Plate with a main, two sides, dessert and a drink. Drinks are at the end of the station, with a specially designed soda machine in partnership with Strange Love Soda and booze on tap.
If looking to pick up ready-made meals or fresh produce, consumers can move through to the groceries, where jewellery style cabinets display daily pastries made in front of your eyes and of course the famous doughnuts. The deli fridges offer vegan cheeses, cold meals and a providore of meats.
The deli also features a retail and homewares section, with Shannon Martinez launching the very first homeware collection, Smith & Home.
In addition to Smith & Home, Martinez has collaborated with cult jewellery label Heart of Bone’s, Emma Abraham on 10 retail styles that will be available in the new venue. The collection will include hand engraved plates and signature dark and moody aesthetics turned into practical everyday pieces. Sophisticated, refined dark glamour with a bit of a splice twist. Ensuring the collection is available for all, prices will vary from $18-$130.
When describing the process of working together, Heart of Bone Founder and Designer, Emma Abraham says “Everything with Shan and I comes about easily and organically and I love collaborating with her on everything and anything. I reckon together we could pretty much take on anything. It’s good to shake things up a bit and I love working collaboratively. Shannon’s one of my favourite people in the world to throw ideas around with.”
On the special collaboration Martinez adds “Emma and I have collaborated in the past on a limited-edition jewellery line. During COVID lockdowns when we all had more time on our hands than usual, we decided the launch of the new business was a great opportunity for us to expand on our original ideas.”
Bringing more touches of glamour and unique elements throughout the spaces, Martinez aligned with local tattoo artists Clare Clarity and Tamara Scoulidis to design two murals within the deli and restaurant.
Having first met Shannon Martinez in 2014 when the first Smith & Daughters opened, artist Clare Clarity feels very close to this project. Designing the mural within the Deli, consumers will be greeted with a Grande Odalisque, reclined in the holy chapel of Our Lady of plant-based delicacies.
On the inspiration, Clare Clarity notes “I took inspiration from Spanish religious art, architecture and tile work. Flamenco costumes, vintage advertising posters, 16th Century still life paintings and traditional tattoo flash. We’ll be using the paint colour Bauwerk Nullarbor to give the painting an aged look, to fit the rustic vibe of the Deli.
Shannon Martinez’s Smith & Deli and first homewares collection Smith & Home is at 107 Cambridge Street, Collingwood. Further details on Smith & Daughters restaurant to follow in the coming weeks.