News Release
April 6, 2022

The City of Toronto is conducting a survey to review the operating hours of the main building (South Market building) of St. Lawrence Market and evaluate how operational improvements can help the Market better serve visitors and residents of Toronto.

In March 2020, St. Lawrence Market was in the process of launching a pilot project with expanded hours of operation, including public hours on Sundays and weekday evenings. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project was paused and the Market modified and reduced hours of operation to comply with COVID-19 health measures. As the City works to rebuild, the Market is now again considering relaunching expanded hours of operation.

The public survey is being conducted to verify how expanded hours of operation for the Market could best serve the public’s needs. COVID-19 has impacted many aspects of our daily lives. This survey aims to understand the impact that COVID-19 has had on food shopping patterns, Market visitation and the level of demand for additional hours to access the Market.

The public is encouraged to provide their input and complete the 10-minute St. Lawrence Market Hours of Operation survey. The survey is available at www.surveymonkey.com/r/stlawrencemarkethours. The survey will be live until Monday, April 18.

Survey results will be reviewed along with other current data and past research conducted to verify what the expanded Market hours of operation could be. Research and consultation on the hours of operation has been done and included analysis of local shopping data, comparative analysis of local and international markets, public consultation, and consultation with Market merchants and stakeholders.

The South Market currently operates five days a week, Tuesdays through Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s closed on Sundays and Mondays.

For more information on the St. Lawrence Market Hours of Operation Survey please visit www.stlawrencemarket.com or contact stlawrencemarket@toronto.ca.

Quotes:

“The St. Lawrence Market is a historic, unique City of Toronto asset. It’s my hope that all residents and visitors to Toronto can enjoy the Market. This survey will help us hear from the public about operational hours. As our city continues to recover from COVID-19, thank you to everyone who is visiting the Market and supporting local small businesses.”
– Mayor John Tory

“I look forward to optimized hours of operation for the Market so that this community anchor can better support the small businesses operating in the Market and the many residents of Toronto that it serves. Looking forward to a lively summer season, now is the right time to consider relaunching expanded hours of operation for the Market.”
– Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam (Toronto Centre)

St. Lawrence Market is a renowned international food market featuring 120 merchants, vendors and farmers, offering fresh produce, meats and specialty items. Serving Toronto residents and international visitors since 1803, the market is regularly recognized as one of Toronto’s most popular destinations and was ranked the number one food market in the world by National Geographic. The St. Lawrence Market Complex consists of St. Lawrence Hall, the South Market and the North Market – the latter now in its temporary home at 125 The Esplanade.

For information about the St. Lawrence Market Complex, visit www.stlawrencemarket.com, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

Samantha Wiles
St. Lawrence Market Complex
647-884-6567