What is a community market?

    A community market is a location where buyers and sellers of produce, food, crafts and other products meet regularly to sell their offerings. It is also a public space for community members to meet, mingle, and enjoy a variety of events and activities.

    As the organization Project for Public Spaces states: "As a place where people mix, public markets can become the heart and soul of a community, its common ground, a place where people interact easily, and a setting where community activities take place."

    What will the St. John's Community Market offer?

    The St. John's Community Market will offer a Saturday market with vendors of produce, prepared foods, arts and crafts, and other items from May-December. In addition, the market will offer one mid-week market, and winter markets on two Saturdays per month. An onsite café will also be available.

    The St. John's Community Market will offer year-round (rentable) workshop and other event spaces, a community kitchen, and will host a variety of public events and activities.

    The market will occupy approximately 14,000 square feet of the vehicle storage/bus bay area of the former Metrobus depot. Significant renovations are scheduled to begin this summer.

    Who will operate the St. John's Community Market?

    The St. John's Community Market will be operated by the St. John's Farmers' Market Cooperative who will manage the day-to-day operations of the market and the community spaces. The City will maintain ownership of the building and will lease the space to the SJFM.

    How did this project come about?

    The decision to move forward with the Community Market comes after several years of work by the City, the St. John’s Farmers’ Market (SJFM), and funding partners.

    The City began discussions with the SJFM in 2012 on how it might help the organization expand to a larger, more functional facility. The SJFM had outgrown its location in the Lion’s Chalet. With Metrobus moving to new premises, the former depot building at 245 Freshwater Road was identified as a potential site. The building is owned by the City.

    The completion of a feasibility assessment and a business plan enabled the City to determine that a Community Market is viable and financially sustainable in the proposed facility.

    When will construction begin and be completed?

    Construction is set to begin in the summer of 2017 and be completed in the spring of 2018.