A field guide to Newtown's growing vegan mile Callan Boys Photo: Jessica Matino Across a two-block Newtown strip that's punctuated by pawn shops and vape stores, restaurants are doing the kind of business other "eat streets" can only dream of. It's King Street's vegan mile and it's becoming more popular by the week. "The vegan community is a very passionate crowd," says Peter Martinez, who opened the plant-based Vandal Taqueria on the southern end of King Street 12 months ago. "I thought we would be stuffed when COVID hit, but people immediately embraced the restaurant and supported us over lockdown like I couldn't believe. I've run venues for 25 years and I've never seen enthusiasm for a restaurant like it."