The South St. Lawrence Market at Front and Jarvis began life as Toronto's City Hall. Designed in 1844 by architect Henry Bowyer Lane, the building housed the council chamber and municipal offices on the second floor, a Police Station on the main floor, jail cells in the basement and a market area in the rear.

Market History

By the late 1800s it was clear that the space was no longer adequate to accommodate all these functions. The civic offices were transferred to the "new" City Hall at Bay and Queen in 1899 and the building was radically altered to provide a larger market for the city. The central portion of the original building survives today as part of the south St. Lawrence Market. Since 1901, the South St. Lawrence Market has been known primarily for its fruits, vegetables, meat and cheese.

For more than 200 years, the North St. Lawrence Market has hosted a Saturday morning Farmers' Market. On Sunday a popular antique market occupies the space. Planning is underway for the redevelopment of the North Market to improve this much loved venue that has attracted generations of Torontonians.

The Market Gallery

Opened in 1979 to house the City of Toronto Archives, the Market Gallery is located on the 2nd floor of the South St. Lawrence Market. It occupies the site of the council chamber, all that remains of Toronto's original City Hall (1845-1899). Each year, the Market Gallery has several exhibits and hosts a number of special events.

The Present Day Market

Today's St. Lawrence Market is at the heart of a vibrant commercial, retail and residential neighbourhood that is home to an amazing variety of restaurants, pubs, theatres, sports and recreational activities, churches and historic structures. Also within easy reach of Market Square are two outstanding institutions of post-secondary education: Ryerson University and George Brown College, and the St. Lawrence branch of the Toronto Public Library. As well, St. Michael's Hospital is close by. An active Business Improvement Area (BIA) harnesses the energies of local businesses and works to improve the St. Lawrence neighbourhood year by year.

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