January 2, 2023
Charlottesville, VA (December 21, 2023) – Dairy Market is thrilled to announce the newest addition to its family of vendors: 434th Street. Dedicated to bringing the vibrant tastes of the Caribbean to Charlottesville, chef and owner Jonathan Wright Jr is set to bring new levels of flavor and culture to the food hall.
434th Street emerged from the challenges of 2020. Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, when many were confined to their homes, Jonathan’s culinary journey took an unexpected turn. Unable to sit idly during the pandemic, Jonathan seized the opportunity to rekindle his love for cooking. In 2020, armed with a $30 smoker purchased from his cousin, his personal pursuit quickly evolved into a thriving venture. 434th Street took center stage at the Saturday City Market, where his authentic Caribbean dishes became an instant hit. Driven by the overwhelmingly positive response, Jonathan expanded his culinary footprint and ventured into the catering scene. Now, with three successful years under his belt, Jonathan has made the jump to a physical location at Dairy Market.
Jonathan’s inspiration stems from traveling to the Caribbean and falling in love with the flavors that varied from island to island. With 30 territories located in the Caribbean, each with distinct culinary styles, 434th Street offers a menu as diverse as the cultures it pulls from. With staple dishes such as braised ox-tail, authentic Caribbean jerked chicken, and coconut curry goat, 434th Street is bringing the heat with a vast array of flavors that the Charlottesville food scene has been missing.
“Find your purpose in life, and expose the light in others with it,” said Jonathan. As a proud native of the Charlottesville area, Jonathan strives to uplift others in the community. Whether it’s hand-delivering free meals to those in need or partnering with local organizations to provide free meals and opportunities, Jonathan is always using his business and talents to give back. “We are beyond lucky to not only have a talented chef who brings an exciting culinary offering to the market, but a person who has a continuing positive impact on the community and those around him,” said Frederick Deichmann, Dairy Market General Manager.
434th Catering will have its grand opening on January 7th. Join us in welcoming our newest vendor and experience the culmination of a journey that began with a humble $30 smoker and blossomed into a culinary destination that invites everyone to savor the spirit of the Caribbean, one delicious dish at a time!
About Dairy Market
Dairy Market is a market hall in Charlottesville, VA and the first in Virginia’s Central Piedmont region. Dairy Market, located in the historic Monticello Dairy building in downtown Charlottesville and just steps away from the University of Virginia, revived a local community treasure and hometown favorite by bringing together a diverse variety of food and beverage, agriculture, Southern culture, history and arts, all under one roof. Dairy Market features a carefully curated selection of Virginia’s leading purveyors, culinary talents and artisans, who showcase the unique array of flavors and artistic inspiration that sets Charlottesville apart, as well as 11,500 square feet of retail space and flexible ground level meeting space for special events. For more information on Dairy Market, visit www.dairymarketcville.com or follow on Instagram and Facebook.
CONTACT:
Wyeth Ward
Tiger Lily Capital Hospitality Group 434-284-1289
wward@tlchg.com