St. Lawrence Farmer's Market moves back indoors as new building opens

The St. Lawrence Farmer's Market's brand new north building opens its doors Saturday, bringing the 200-year-old market back indoors for the first time in nearly a decade.

The new North Market building — a five-storey, glass and orange metal building at Front and Jarvis streets — has been under construction since 2016, on the site of the old, brick building that had hosted the market for nearly 50 years.

Since the building has been under redevelopment, the Saturday market has been operating out of a tent behind the St. Lawrence Market Complex's brick south building across the road. 

Delays over the years have pushed the opening date, and raised the project cost to $128 million. Suzanne Kavanaugh, past president of the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association, says the wait has been frustrating, but more than worth it.

"When people walk in on Saturday, I'm hoping that they will find the joy that I find," she said Friday. "I've been in a few times now and it just brings a smile to my face."

She called the old North Market building a "concrete slab" that wasn't ideal for communal events, including the farmer's market.

The new building has a large atrium, with views of St. Lawrence Hall and the South Market building at either end, and vendors at the farmer's market set up on the ground floor.

Fred Wheeler, who was among the first shoppers to check out the market Saturday, said the new space is a big improvement.

"The old building was just sort of a flat kind of industrial-like building," he said while picking up cheese curds. "This one, it's stunning. It's taken a long time to get it open, but I think it's great."

Vendor Paul Moyer, a third-generation fruit farmer from the Niagara peninsula, said Saturday morning that he was excited to be back at the old site, albeit in a new building.

"We're really glad the market's opened up again today," he said. "I've been [coming] here since I was two-years-old."

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow was also on hand for the first day, saying she comes to the market every Saturday.

Chow, who is encouraging local shopping as part of the city's plan to deal with U.S. tariffs, said the new building is "a beautiful space" to buy quality Ontario products.

"By shopping local, not only are we reducing greenhouse gas emissions ... it's a statement that we love local, that we believe we can be resilient and strong by supporting each other, taking care of each other," she said Saturday morning. 

The new venue will also be available to rent for corporate events, weddings and other functions, says Scott Barrett, director of property management services for the city. Rentals and a paid parking lot beneath the market will help pay for building costs, he says.

But Barrett says the most exciting part of the opening is the return of the farmer's market to the site.

"It's part of, of the fabric of the neighborhood," he said. "And we're so glad that we've got a permanent home now to make sure that it can continue to be part of that neighbourhood fabric."

Although the new building will host the farmer's market for the first time Saturday, the official grand opening will be held May 10. Since March 5, the building's fifth floor has been home to provincial offences courtrooms and counter services previously located at Old City Hall.