The Victoria Downtown Public Market has taken longer to establish than expected but its grand opening in the Hudson is now set for Sept. 14.
“I think it is fair to say that, for those who may have been unconvinced by our many efforts, that we have gone well beyond the scope of wishful thinking and hope and rumours. We are about to open up what I think is an incredibly unique local food destination,” said Philippe Lucas, chairman of the Victoria Downtown Public Market Society’s board and project co-ordinator. The market originally was to open in April.
Locals and tourists will come to the market at 1701 Douglas St., Lucas said Thursday, adding it will be one of the city’s most popular must-see destinations.
A market sign with bright red letters, four feet tall, will be installed before the official opening.
To date, 11 permanent vendors have signed up. Their contracts run three to five years at $35 per square foot. More permanent vendors will be announced in the coming weeks, Lucas said. Confirmed vendors are: The French Oven, Silk Road Tea, Salt Spring Island Cheese, LaCocina de Mama Oli, Island Spice Trade, Roast, Victoria Pie Co., Cowichan Bay Seafood, Sutra (an offshoot of the popular Vij’s restaurant group in Vancouver), Damn Fine Cake Co. and il Dolce Gelato.
A butcher is on the wish list as a permanent vendor, said market general manager Maryanne Carmack.
A green grocer announced earlier did not pan out. However, an agreement with another operator is expected to be signed within days, Lucas said.
Daily tables are being booked as well, he said. Some of those vendors already participate in the Wednesday outdoor market, held in the carriage way behind the Hudson.
Shoppers will be able to eat-in at seating located throughout the space, as well as purchase food to take home.
“It’s going to be a one-stop spot,” Lucas said.
Kiosks will also be available at some point in the future, he said. At this time, efforts are focused on getting the market open.
The market will be open between 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and on Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will be closed Monday.
The Sept. 14 opening event starts at 10 a.m., with Victoria’s poet laureate Janet Rogers, as well as drumming, cooking demonstrations by chefs at the community kitchen, children’s activities and music throughout the day, Lucas said. “It’s going to be a rocking, tasty place.”
A public market has been talked about in the city for decades, with various locations considered.
This market is in the north end of downtown, where millions of dollars in construction has occured in recent years.
The developer behind the Hudson, Townline, is also building the 120-unit Hudson Mews project next door. Other projects include the 133-unit Union condo project on Pandora Avenue, and the $300-million-plus Uptown mixed-use project on the north end of Douglas Street.
Townline Ventures re-developed the historic former Hudson Bay department store, creating 152 condominiums on the upper floors with commercial space on the ground floor.
The market covers 18,000 square feet, with 11,000 square feet of space that can be leased. So far, about 80 per cent allocated for permanent vendors is spoken for, Lucas said.
The society manages the space under a contract with Townline, which has estimated the value of improvements at between $1.5 million and $2 million.
In the evenings, the facility will be available to rent for special events, Carmack said. It will have a stage and a full audio-visual system.
