Visit Historic St. Lawrence Market in Toronto
Learn About Ontario's Past While Shopping at The Farmers Market
Ontario farmers have been making the journey to the market block since 1803, and although Toronto and the market have changed drastically over the years, one thing remains the same. Every Saturday at 5:00 a.m. the farmers market begins.
Thankfully, it's not necessary to shop before dawn. The St. Lawrence Market opens at 8:00 a.m. every Tuesday to Friday and continues to be the place to buy quality meat, fresh fruits, vegetables and cheese.
Humble Beginnings
Of course the St. Lawrence Market didn’t always look like it does today. Originally the market was held across the street and in the early 19th century, the government officially declared this area to be the market block.
This is when Toronto was actually the town of York and the first market was not much more than a wooden shed, but as the city grew so did the need for a larger market. By 1845 the expansion put an additional market across the street, leaving the north market for butcher stalls and the new south one for fresh produce and poultry.
Growth and Change
The building, designed by John William Siddall (in 1901) was created to incorporate and encompass another building. This original building was not only the first city hall and police station, but also the jail and mayor’s office. The evidence of this past is still visible inside the St Lawrence Market.
The façade of Toronto’s first city hall is now the Market Gallery and is located on the second floor. The gallery is what remains of the original council chambers and the first mayor’s chair is often on display. Run by the City of Toronto the Market Gallery is free to the public and features exhibitions that depict the cultural growth of the city.
The South Side
The south market is boisterous regardless of the time or day and is filled with vivid colours and pungent smells. Prices and product demands have certainly grown over the years, and now everything from imported sea salt to organic sprouts can be found among the conventional merchants.
The first “all cheese” shop at the market opened in 1958 and Olympic Cheese Mart is still here selling mountains of cheese. Mike’s Fish Market can boast 40 years in the exact same spot, even if the counter looks shiny and new, but Brown Brothers Meat has outlasted them all.
This butcher shop has been selling fresh cut meat at the St. Lawrence Market since 1895. Although a new family owns it now, the tradition is kept alive and photographs of the original owner and shop are prominently displayed behind the neat rows of sirloin steak.
The North Side
The north market, empty and available for rent on week days comes alive on the weekend. On Saturdays the tradition of a local farmers market lives on and the fruits and vegetables sold here have been picked that morning. The Saturday market ends when the produce is gone so it is a good idea to arrive early or at least by mid morning.
Sundays, while the south market is closed, the north building holds an antique fair that spills out onto the sidewalk. Ripe with kitschy furniture, art deco lamps and old memorabilia the weekly antique market is a great diversion either before or after brunch.
The St. Lawrence Market may be the oldest, continually operated market in North America, but to those who work and shop here it’s a way of life.
Sources
St. Lawrence Market- 92 Front Street East, 416-392-7120
Old Town Toronto- 416-861-1793
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