The site of farmers markets in Toronto for over two centuries, St. Lawrence Market offers shoppers a huge variety of vendors to shop from.
St. Lawrence Market in Toronto
Named the “world’s best food market” by National Geographic in 2012, St. Lawrence Market is a historic piece of Toronto that continues to operate today. While the focus of the market is on food (and there are a ton of places to choose from in that regard) there are other options too.
The St. Lawrence Market is made up of two separate buildings. The North Market is the older one and hosts a farmers market on weekends. The South Market is open more regularly and is also bigger, with an array of food and drinks on offer as well as craft vendors selling items like clothing and accessories.
Unlike some public markets, where vendors can move in and out by season, the St. Lawrence Market is an institution. There are some farms that supply the North Market that have done so since it began in the 19th century. The South Market is extremely difficult to get into as ownership of stalls is held long-term. In November 2021, a South Market stall was put on sale for the first time in over 10 years! There are numerous local and family-run businesses that have been staples in the St. Lawrence Market for decades.
Inside St. Lawrence Market
Location and Market Times
St. Lawrence market is open six days a week. The only day where nothing takes place at the market is on Mondays. The South Market is open from 9:00 am until 7:00 pm from Tuesdays to Fridays, from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturdays and from 10:00 to 5:00 pm on Sundays. The North Market is also open on Saturdays from 5:00 am to 3:00 pm with its farmers market.
The building complex is located at 92 Front Street East. The North Market building, however, has not been used since 2015 as it was demolished and is currently being rebuilt. The new building is expected to be completed in the coming years. Until then, the North Market is held in a temporary building at 125 The Esplanade, with a parking lot directly across the street from the South Market.
Other places of interest in the area close by include the Cathedral Church of St. James and the Museum of Illusions.
The North Market
The origin of the North Market dates all the way back to 1803. That was when the area around the site was named the “Market Block” by the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada. A permanent building was first built in the 1820s. There have been multiple new buildings constructed over the years (including one under construction right now), but regardless of that there has been a market at the site ever since 1803.
The farmers market on Saturday is a massive weekly event with vendors coming in from across southern Ontario. As of 2018, around 80% of the sellers were farmers providing fresh crops of various kinds. There are also vendors with different processed products like jams, wine, cheeses and other items. As is the case with the South Market, the application process to become a vendor can be quite long and selective. Everyone who sells there is carefully chosen.
The South Market
The building that eventually became the South Market was built as the Toronto City Hall in 1845. At the end of the century city hall moved to a new location and the building was turned into a marketplace. This conversion accompanied similar renovations done to the North Market, and the two buildings were conjoined when they reopened to the public in the early 1900s.
The South Market has two floors, with the upper floor being the more popular one, containing dozens of food vendors of different varieties. The non-food vendors are all on the lower floor which is partially underground, although there is still some food sold there as well. As mentioned above, it’s extremely difficult for new vendors to get a place in the South Market. Basically all of the vendors there have operated in that same spot for years. Some count their time spent at St. Lawrence in decades!
The South Market is open six days a week from Tuesday to Sunday, making it the busiest part of the whole St. Lawrence complex.
Arts at the Market
The Arts at the Market program is an addition to the already wide offering of wares at St. Lawrence. From Fridays to Sundays every weekend between Easter and Thanksgiving, artisan vendors set up shop outside the main market buildings to sell their work. From individualized art pieces to functional craft items, there is plenty to explore. All of the items are handmade as well.
St. Lawrence Hall
The St. Lawrence Hall doesn’t host any vendors and isn’t as popular of a place to visit, but it’s still considered part of the St. Lawrence Market complex. Located a block away from the main market buildings at 157 King Street East, the Hall was built in 1850 and is a National Historic Site of Canada.
Originally a site for public gatherings, concerts and other large events, the Hall declined in use in the later stages of the 19th century. It was restored in 1976 as part of Canada’s 100th anniversary celebrations. The building is not fully open to visitors but it can be reserved for private events. You can also take a virtual tour of the inside on the St. Lawrence Hall webpage.
Other Information
For more information visit the St. Lawrence Market website.
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(Photos in this article are courtesy of St. Lawrence Market.)