AKRON, Ohio – Soulful Vegan, which offers vegan soul food, cocktails and mocktails, has relocated to 1720 Merriman Road in Downtown Akron.
The move has allowed the restaurant to double its size and seating capacity, according to owner Frey Canty. The restaurant was previously located in a smaller location in Merriman Valley.
Canty, who was born and raised in Akron, has been a vegan for 15 years. She got into cooking when she owned an indoor cycling studio. She brought vegan food samples into the gym, which eventually led to her offering meal preparation services for clients.
“The girls there loved it. When I began to prepare meals for some of them, they lost a lot of weight. Then their family members and friends started getting meals too. Soon, there was more demand for my food than the exercise, and it kind of took off from there,” Canty said.
Canty opened her new location last week. The opening was supposed to be a soft one, but it ended up being really busy, she said.
“The grand opening was phenomenal. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. We were busy from the time we opened until the time we closed. It was very nice and people were very supportive,” Canty said.
What sets Soulful Vegan apart from other vegan restaurants is that Canty offers menu items that will appeal to anyone. Often, diners can’t even tell the dishes are meatless.
“Our vegan rib dinner is the number one selling dinner. It’s made out of jackfruit, and it is gluten and soy free. It also comes with two sides,” Canty said.
Other popular menu items include the vegan filet mignon dinner and vegan shrimp and scallops, along with vegan burgers, wings, fish and chicken sandwiches and cheesesteaks. The restaurant offers an assortment of cocktails and mocktails.
The new location employs 22 people and offers seating for 50. The bar and grill offers entertainment, including sporting events and fights on TV and live music.
“We have karaoke on Thursdays, and we are looking to try and have jazz twice a month on Fridays,” Canty said.
The bar and grill was able to relocate with assistance from Downtown Akron Partnership’s Start Downtown program, which is funded through a grant from the Burton D. Morgan Foundation. The program encourages new business growth, particularly among women and people of color, according to the Downtown Akron Partnership website.
“They assisted with rent for six months and they’ve been very helpful as far as providing attorney information and accounting information. They gave grants for those services to make sure that my accounting is done correctly and legally. They also assisted with the liquor license,” Canty said.
“Downtown Akron Partnership is thrilled to welcome the Soulful Vegan to the district. Downtown is a celebration of our community, and having many restaurants with diverse culinary offerings adds vibrancy and character to the neighborhood,” President and CEO Kimberly Beckett said in a news release.
Hours are Wednesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to midnight. Soulful Vegan is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for brunch, according to Canty.
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