North Side Market Vendors Will Sell Food At Fredericton Exhibition Ground
FREDERICTON – The North Side Market may have permanently closed due to Covid-19, but some of the food vendors will have a new place to sell their products starting June 26.
Fredericton Exhibition will be hosting 10 vendors, many of which used to sell food at the north side market, at their facilities on Smythe St. as part of the Food Market at the Ex.
Executive director Mike Vokey said with events at the exhibition ground cancelled or postponed this year, and vendors seeking for a place to do business after some markets were discontinued, “the stars aligned.”
“We were looking for different opportunities to have something going on that would be safe for visitors, and something that could be a revenue generator for the facility and also take advantage of using the facility during a downtime,” he said.
The organization purchased and renovated the vendor buildings that usually stand outside the North Side market, and sought out vendors who used to sell there.
“Some of them do it as a side business and some of them do it as their livelihood, so we were trying to look after those who were impacted by the closure of the market,” Vokey said. “You’ll see some vendors move here from the North Side. We also have a vendor that was part of the Garrison Market.”
Vokey said the Food Market at the Ex would include diverse offerings from the likes of Country Fried, J’s Asian Kitchen, Syrian Delights and Street Greek. Visitors will also find Jamaican, Korean and Mexican food, as well as vegetarian options, he said.
“This is a real international market,” he said. “So people can come back and try something different every time.”
In alignment with Fredericton Exhibition’s Greener Fair program started two years ago, all vendors will use recyclable containers, bags and cutlery. They also won’t be using plastic bags, cutlery or straws, and styrofoam.
For now, the exhibition association is focusing on getting the outside market up and running. But if restrictions are lifted further, Vokey already has a waiting list of 30 vendors for the indoor space, and he’s thought about adding entertainment from bands also. He said a limit of 100 people inside would be “a workable” number for the vendors and Fredericton Exhibition.
“We have lots of space and we have the facility. We want to get the outside going and take a look at it and make sure it works with the Covid protocols,” he said. “We’ll play it by ear for the inside, but we anticipate that’ll be the next step.”
The plan is to have the food market stay open for the long-run, he added.
“We’re hoping it’s long term. The vendors are committed to staying long-term, they’re talking about being here in the winter and as the weather changes,” Vokey said.