Articles and Photos by Chuck Seaver, South Lake Tablet
Johnsons Village Marketplace, located in historical downtown Clermont, 550 West Avenue, celebrated an official ribbon-cutting hosted by the South Lake Chamber of Commerce on Monday, December 18th. Conveniently located at the corner of Minneola Avenue and West Avenue, the Marketplace has ample parking and easy walks to surrounding businesses, including the Clermont Historical Village.
The Marketplace is a unique venue that offers many services under one roof including a neighborhood-style grocery market, complete with fresh meats, seafood, produce and stocked non-perishable foods. The marketplace takes pride in partnering with local farmers such as HertaBerkSchwein Farm, a USDA facility that provides high-quality products such as pork and other locally grown foods. Uncle Matts Organic, another local and family-owned business, offers a wide variety of organic beverages and food products at the Marketplace. Check out the produce section of the store for a wide variety of fresh juices of many flavors produced by Uncle Matts.
An impressive collection of antique trucks, ice cream churns and other vintage machinery can be found on the premises as well as self-service pet bathing areas for those hot summer days when four-legged family members are plentiful on the nearby fitness trail. Johnsons Village is complete with a “Fresh Grill” on the premises seven days a week. Fresh Grill is open from 11 am-7 pm daily and offers fresh meals such as sliders, salads, and wraps. Look for the shiny silver mobile kitchen and let the delicious aromas guide your appetite.
Feeling a little thirsty? Stop by the “Whistle Stop” open-air watering hole for a cold beer or cold drink. The Whistle Stop is located near the large faux, wooden water tower on the family-friendly grounds of the Marketplace and offers a wide variety of drink and tap options. Enjoy your beverage in the comfort of the shade and natural breezes from beautiful nearby Lake Minneola.
The Marketplace plans a long list of family activities year-round, including an upcoming Coca-Cola sampling on December 20th, a local honey sampling on December 22nd, and a seafood sampling on December 29th.
Visit Johnsons Village Marketplace on Facebook for a full listing of hours, events, and grocer specials.
