A first-hand look at The Joinery – Lakeland’s first food hall

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In 2018, we helped announce that Lakeland was getting its very first food hall. At the beginning of last year, we shared its nameThe Joinery. Last fall, we had the opportunity to announce a few of the vendors that were headed inside. And just this week, we stepped foot inside for a little preview, gathering all the need-to-know information for you and your hungry + eager stomachs.

Here’s the rundown of what you can expect both inside + outside of the space. ⬇️

An inside look at The Joinery | Giphy by @thelaltoday

  • A large wooden + concrete bar with an abundance of taps + a kitschy drink menu with cocktails like “Thai One On,” a tropical Moscow mule-inspired libation with lemongrass and citrus, and “Uno Moss,” a margarita featuring Ancho Verde.
  • An industrial-feel to the space with a high, arched, exposed ceiling, and concrete floors.
  • A front patio with a covering, chairs, tables, couches, benches, and an iconic lakefront view.
  • A back patio with a fire pit, orange sunset-themed umbrella tables, and native Florida foliage from The Nectary.
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The bar at The Joinery | Photo by @thelaltoday

  • An easy-to-find large parking lot, connected to the side of the building.
  • Ornate breeze blocks, both inside + outside to promote airflow, while adding a layer of privacy.
  • Uniquely designed spaces for each vendor, built out of shipping containers.

And now let’s talk about everyone’s favorite topic (and lowkey the reason you’re here): The food. You can find a variety of goodies from several different vendors – from a taste-bud trip around the world with Ato’s poke bowls and Gallito Taqueria’s mango con chile to more locally-based treasures like spicy miso ramen from Sābu Ramen + imperial stouts from King State Coffee.

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Florida Bowl, Pork Belly Ramen, Cheese Pizza at The Joinery | Photo by @thelaltoday

P.S. Times of operation will be as follows: Mon.-Thurs. from 7 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri. + Sat. from 7 a.m.-11 p.m., and Sun. from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

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Front patio at The Joinery | Photo by @thelaltoday

While the space is in the midst of opening, owners Jon and Sarah Bucklew are brainstorming more plans for the future – such as a smore kits you can purchase from the bar to enjoy outside by the campfire.

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Front lawn at The Joinery | Photo by @thelaltoday

Curious to see what the process was for creating The Joinery? Watch episodes of their journey here.

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View of Lake Mirror from the front lawn at The Joinery | Photo by @thelaltoday

Bonus: The Joinery is just about a two-minute walk to the rest of downtown + has millisecond access to Lake Mirror.

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A few of the seating options inside of The Joinery | Photo by @thelaltoday

Inside the space there are a plethora of seating options, such as round + square wooden tables, benches, stools, and chairs, all created by Jon + Sarah Bucklew’s furniture company, Seventeen20.

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Ato at The Joinery | Photo by @thelaltoday

From specially designed murals and meals with themed names to uniquely placed tiles and an abundance of greenery, each vendor has brought their own unique character into the space.

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The back patio at The Joinery | Photo by @thelaltoday

Quiz

Find the correct answer at the bottom of today’s newsletter.

– LALtoday team (Jessica + Kaylee)

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