Raise the Hammer

Well, this may be selfish, but all the vendors I visit regularly are there, so I'm happy.

The addition of the cafe sounds pretty cool :)

Surprised not to see any articles or photos of the newly revamped Central Library on RTH yet. What do people think? I am hearing very mixed reviews myself.

personally, I love it. I'll have to drag myself over with my camera someday and take some shots.
I think the space is wonderful and man, is it ever being used. Jam packed all the time. I love Hamilton's history and old architecture, but there's certainly a compelling case for some well placed modernism such as this new complex and the new McNab Transit Terminal. At the same time we're restoring gems like Hotel Hamilton, Lister and City Hall. I think downtown is really on the upswing at the moment with some good groundwork being laid for the future. Don't forget upcoming projects now in the next 24 months that will see Gore Park rebuilt and pedestrianized along with a new urban park at King William and John.

I should also add that the Hero Mobile Cafe listed above mentions that they will also operate a smoothie bar in the Market on their website. Also, the folks at Genuine Bakery told me they will be offering freshly made pizzas and a gelato bar in the new market now that there are places to sit and each lunch.
I'm quite pleased with the product mix being developed at the market. All the consternation and hiccups along the way appear to be behind us and the city's ultimate goal of improving the mix and quality has taken place. Kudos to Anna Bradford and the entire staff involved in this difficult process.

Related to this, can we get a list of stalls that were rejected/won't be returning?

Comparing it to the city's posted list these are the missing vendors:

Blair Elements

Future Bakery

Karlik Pastries

Mario's Nuts (although Mario's Fruit Market is in the new market)

Mr. Vinegar

Natural Threads

N. Giannini Meats/Tango Meats

Roy's Produce

Teal's Pure Pork

Tilly's Produce

Woodpecker Handicraft Gallery

This doesn't account for vendors who might have changed names to something catchy like "Vegetable and Bulk".

Also, there are nine more names listed in the new market than the old (67 new - 58 old).

Comment edited by mikeyj on 2011-01-04 11:20:39

The Sensational Samosa is listed in the new list, FYI.

oops, edited.

I know for certain that Karlik, Future and Woodpecker didn't make it. Future, of their own choice. I can't speak to the other two. Also, one vendor must be missing because I've been informed by the city that there are now 68 vendors instead of the previous 58.

So, despite all the publicity that there would be fewer stalls in the market, there is actually 10 new businesses.

Woodpecker has already set up a new shop/stall in the hallway between Dennigers and the market entrance. I assume he cracked out a lease deal with Yale and is attempting to find customers in his new space. Adds some colour to an otherwise dark space.

not to mention, he is right around the corner from 3 large stalls that will locate in the old food court - Witeveens, Sams Meat & Cheese and one other stall that escapes me at the moment - William Bro's perhaps?

Can someone clarify that 'stall' is not eqivalent to 'vendors'. If I recall, in the old market, some of the vendors had multiple stalls and larger spaces. I thought that the limitations in the new market were on mulitple stalls housing the same vendor. If that is the case, it explains why there is room for the majority of the old vendors.

vendor is different than stall. There were 58 'businesses' aka- vendors, in the old market. The new market will have 68 vendors. so, we've added ten new businesses into the mix.

This one looks great!

http://www.atomiccupcakes.ca/store/Defau...

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Atomic-Cup...

Comment edited by jason on 2011-01-05 14:28:50

Thanks Jason, that is what I thought! Fewer 'stalls' didnt' mean that long term vendors couldn't be squeezed in. I am looking forward to the grand opening at the end of January.

Karlik's pastry, officially, is the only original vendor who has not been returned to the renovated market. The above posts mention the "business license" names of the stalls, not the actual vendors themselves. Every vendor, save Karlik, is back in the original market or has been offered a space in market square--however, there has been no official word on market square, yet. They stand to lose 2 employees in their Hamilton-based operation if they don't get a spot. Toronto-based Future Bakery has been offered a small space. We'll have to wait and see what happens with this one.

I read somewhere before that at the selection of the market vendors, each stall is a maximum of 24 feet frontage. But I found out today that there a a couple of vendors has almost 30feet of frontage!!! And some has less space than they could fit their equipments into. How fair is this? Karlik pastry should be allow to return!!!

That is very unfair.

What about Buttrum's? Are they there under another name - or have I missed something?

Trouble is still afoot:
Today, the lines were being painted on the floor at the market. Several vendors, who had already signed contracts based on specific allocated stalls, returned to the renovated market only to find their space had been reduced, or altered, without notice. One vendor found that his space had been reduced to less than half its original size.
The new by-laws were supposed to make things fair. No one has more than one stall, no one has more than 24 feet.
Now we're seeing that change, with a stroke of a paintbrush.
Trouble with painted lines.
"We don't need the feeling that someone is going to take our shirt when we're not looking over our shoulder; we don't have the confidence in management"
-A vendor

Harry R. Buttrum & Son are on the list, I took that to be Buttrum's.

yes, trouble is still afoot! I call the plumber today and they tell me they can't do any sink hook up till they have a go ahead from the CITY! Apparently there is some issues about the building code. They might have to rip up the floors and redo the drainage system. That may means that the Market won't be opening on Jan.21 like it is planned.