Orlando's Mills Market Celebrates One Year Anniversary

ORLANDO, FL - Mills Market in Orlando's Mills 50 neighborhood celebrated one year of operation this past weekend. The neighborhood Asian market is essentially a modern food hall with plenty of local vendors and goods for sale. Tickets were sold to guests and they enjoyed unlimited samples and beverages as well as live music and a photo booth for a number of hours. Local chefs and owners walked around the event in a happy mood and all seemed to really enjoy the gathering.

Mills Market is a good example of how to bring multiple food vendors together in a positive and community-driven way, against some of the bigger food halls that have struggled in recent years as the initial fad seems to pass for diners.

I interviewed Mills Market owner Johnny Tung for some background on the market and how it feesl to hit the one year mark.

How does it feel to celebrate one year of operation?

"It's amazing how much the market has changed in only a year, but it was one of the longest years of my life (laughs). We are so thankful that the Orlando community has embraced the vision that I had for this Asian culinary hub. We will continue to push to provide better offerings and a better experience everyday."

What motivated you to open The Mills Market?

"Orlando has a growing collection of amazing, homegrown Asian restaurants with local chefs. Mills Market was intended to be a place to experience food from some of the best chefs in Orlando all under one roof. My wife has had a jewelry store inside Mills Market (previously known as Tien Hung Market) for the last 20 years so it started there."

How does it feel to be recognized by The Michelin Guide and what does it mean for Orlando’s food scene and the cuisines offered by your establishment?

"We are honored and humbled. It feels like a dream come true. We are very proud to represent Orlando on Michelin's international stage. Orlando is a melting pot of amazing cultures, and it's been fun to see the public's perception of Orlando evolve. We are more than just theme parks! As for the cuisines offered by the market, they are becoming more widely accepted and respected, and people seem more open to give them a try."

What does it mean to be in the Mills 50 neighborhood and why did you choose your current location?

"Mills 50 is the culinary hub for all new and exciting concepts--and not just Orlando, but all of Florida. My wife has had a jewelry store inside the market for the last 20 years. When the owner of Tien Hung Market was retiring, it was the perfect time to take my food and beverage background and transform the old market into what it is today while still preserving its original Mills 50 charm. The Market has become a family legacy project, and something that I want my kids to be proud of."

What can people look forward to in the future from The Mills Market?

"People can look forward to new chef driven concepts, more community-driven events---night markets, pop-ups, and chef collaborations. We're opening Okonomi this fall, we'll be planning to open a speakeasy bar next to Zaru as well later down the line. We would like to host more community-forward events, and to create a launchpad for new concepts by local chefs."

Learn more about Mills Market at mills-market.com.

About me: Hello my name is Carlos Hernandez and I am a writer and journalist with over 15 years of experience. I write the food and travel blog Carlos Eats (https://www.carloseats.com) and also contribute to several newspapers and magazines on numerous topics.