NuVegan Cafe officially opened its new stall at Lexington Market on October 2, according to Lexington Market, adding a Baltimore outpost for the regional vegan soul food chain.
A Baltimore NuVegan location opened near Johns Hopkins University in 2021, as The Johns Hopkins News-Letter reported in March 2022.
From DC Takeout Counter to Regional Soul Food Brand
Woodland launched the concept in Washington, D.C., in 2008, when he purchased what was then Everlasting Life Cafe. He later renamed it Woodland's Vegan Bistro before rebranding the business as NuVegan Cafe. NuVegan's menu includes plant-based soul food staples such as vegan fried “chick'n” drummies, mac and cheese, barbecue tofu, and crab cake sandwiches.
Today NuVegan operates locations across the Washington-Baltimore region, including spots on Georgia Avenue and near Howard University in D.C., as well as outposts in College Park, Maryland, and Richmond, Virginia, according to business directory listings compiled by Vkind. The Lexington Market stall gives the brand another foothold in the corridor and puts a prominent Black-owned DMV restaurant group inside one of Baltimore's most visible dining destinations.
A 244-Year-Old Market's Modern Makeover
Lexington Market itself carries a longer history than almost any commercial space in the country. Lexington Market dates to 1782 and is the longest continually operating public market in America, as reported by Lexington Market.
A redevelopment brought a new market building to the centuries-old institution, as noted by Seawall.
Joining the Market's Plant-Based Push
NuVegan's arrival adds to the plant-forward lineup inside the redeveloped market, which includes local plant-based vendor Bmore Vegan Joint. Together, the two vendors give downtown visitors more dietary options under one roof.
