New Deli: A Taste of Vermont

Canton’s Newest Downtown Enterprise

A new small-town restaurant, A Taste of Vermont, is starting to become a local favorite amongst students at St. Lawrence University. Since opening its doors a few months ago, A Taste of Vermont has been navigating the process of growing a business in Canton, dependent on student traffic.   

A startup business like this has to overcome many hurdles.  

It’s common for businesses to struggle in the beginning. “You have to learn your clientele––when are the school’s breaks, what do people like on the menu?” said Robert Gladding, the head chef of A Taste of Vermont.   

Students from SLU are growing fond of the new restaurant. “The experience was great, the food was good, and I like that it is family run,” said Sean Wiseman ’26. The advertising of this startup business could use some help, given that the restaurant is in a prime business location on Main St. in Canton. “[The] advertising is pretty bad, you really wouldn’t know it was there,” Wiseman said.   

A Taste of Vermont is a unique name. One might think, why Vermont when we’re in the middle-of-nowhere New York? “I lived in Vermont for 27 years and learned a lot from the chefs there,” Gladding said. The unique location was just an idea until the owners of The Taste of Vermont saw a vision of what it could become. “I saw it, knew exactly what it was, and what was going to come from it,” he stated.   

In the college off-months, A Taste of Vermont might experience some difficulty with customers and business. However, there are some solutions at work. “We’re always trying to increase the impact of summer tourism to help local businesses” said Ben Dixon, the St. Lawrence County executive director of the chamber of commerce.  

The next chapter is bright for the up-and-coming restaurant. The owners are looking towards what the future might hold. “[Expand] the menu, hire more people, and maybe buy the building and put up in some apartments,” said Gladding.