Spotlight On ... Vegan Hippie Chick

Business background

The Vegan Hippie Chick (VHC) restaurant, a fixture on Main Street in downtown Welland, was originally started by Mandy McCullough in March 2017.

Prior to the present-day iteration of the business, Mandy operated The VHC as a downtown bakery specializing in vegan-baked goods. With her love for cooking and passion for vegan cuisine, Mandy grew the bakery into a full-service restaurant, cultivating a delicious environment for all to enjoy. Since the beginning, Mandy is proud to have remained true to her vision of operating a local business that is welcoming to everyone.

As COVID-19 restrictions began to ease and The VHC resumed its regular business operations, Mandy brought on Corey Dutcher, first as an operations manager and then a partner. Together they are continuing to grow the VHC brand, with Mandy recently launching an executive chef series that includes private dinners, catering, chef services, and food for festivals.

Future plans include take-home dinners, to-go express lunches, and charitable fundraising experiences. In addition to finding ways to bring a fine dining vegan experience to Welland, The Vegan Hippie Chick is a proud supporter of LGBTQ+ events in Welland.