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At this laundromat, jerk chicken is available for takeout, fried chicken and barbecue is sold in the parking lot and jewelry stands line an adjacent alley while a donut shop renovation is underway next door.
Welcome to Hamilton Road.
In an era of retail and food chains dominating strip malls across London, entrepreneurship, diversity and the offbeat can still be found in this east end community.
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That uniqueness was celebrated Sunday as the Hamilton Road Business Improvement Area held its Carnevale, with musical performances, food and businesses taking to sidewalks and parking lots for the community event.
“This helps us showcase what we do and bring people here who may not have been here,” said Tanya Lovell, who works at Eastside Bar & Grill. “There are great businesses here, mom and pop shops and we want more people to be aware of that and that we care about it.”
The Hamilton Road BIA, covering an area from Adelaide Street to Highbury Avenue, includes more than 30 restaurants and more than 80 other assorted businesses and services.
Carnevale was a day-long event to celebrate the community.
The large parking lot behind Eastside was turned into a community car wash, vendors sold their wares and burgers were on the barbecue. At King of Pigs, pulled chicken and pork sandwiches were sold outside the restaurant, which steadily filled with Father’s Day diners.
“It’s about bringing more people to the area, and the community together,” said owner Rui Vieira. “We’re celebrating the Hamilton corridor.”
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At the Neighbourhood Laundromat Cafe, Mundy’s Take Out also sells Jamaican food from the counter and for the Sunday event Kyle’s Fried Chicken and Barbecue set up in a parking lot behind the building.
“It’s important to celebrate the businesses and to come together as a community, to work together,” said Mike Kowalyk, who owns Neighbourhood Laundromat Cafe and plans on opening Balboni’s Donuts next door later this summer.
“This is about highlighting the community,” he added of Carnevale.
ndebono@postmedia.com
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