Gateway to Saint John~

The first time I walked into the Saint John City Market I fell in love with it immediately. I loved the old building (1876), loved its style and I loved the variety from fresh seafood to local produce and everything in between. I loved it for the feel of the place and just for the fact it had survived.

The Saint John City Market is the oldest continuously operated farmers market in Canada, with a charter going back to 1785. The City originally had six markets of different types, fish market to hay market and so on. After fires destroyed a few buildings a plan was put together to build the present structure, completed 1876. It narrowly escaped the Great Fire of 1877 one year later that destroyed much of Saint John. The City Market was designated a National Historic Site in 1986.

It takes up a whole city block, going down a gentle slope from Charlotte to Germain Streets. It then continues on into a large shopping complex stretching over three city blocks, starting with the Brunswick Square complex and sprawling eventually into the Market Square area which leads to the North Market Wharf and the Saint John Convention Centre and Hilton Hotel.

There are pedways and skywalks all over the place, including ones that lead to the Aquatic Centre, Harbour Station (now TD Station), a skywalk to City Hall, bars, shops, food courts, hotels, the Convention Centre and parking. [see Pedway Map below]

A simpler time~

For me these images harken back to a simpler time for all of us. This was one full year before Covid even made an appearance in November 2019. Sadly, Balemans Produce (shown above in 2018) was one of the casualties of Covid, shutting its permanent stall in 2020. The stall had been operated by the Baleman family for over 55 years and was known for having great produce. The stall is now occupied by Greengrocer, who are carrying on the tradition of quality.

A couple of 360° panos of the Market. Click the pics, have a look around.

Shopping habits~

Soon after we moved here I decided that if we lived in Saint John (instead of 45 minutes away) this would be a regular weekly visit. Some meat, cheese and veggies and then some lunch. There is some great variety here, and the whole place is just so damn comfortable. And interesting. No stress inducing shopping here.

When I do make it down, most of the time I like parking around Kings Square close to the Imperial Theatre, going in the “Gateway Entrance” on Charlotte Street and carrying on through the whole complex. But if I am pressed for time will just check out the City Market and leave the rest for another day.

Brunswick Square~

Photo of the elevator area in the Saint John Market Square building in Saint John, NB in 2017.

The main area at Brunswick Square, Christmastime 2018. [click the pic, look around]

Photo of the escalators at the Saint John Market Square building in Saint John, NB in 2017.

Market Square~

Here you can see the fountain area by the Public Library and former location of the New Brunswick Museum. On my first visit here, I got a chance to tour the Museum. Within an hour I learned more about the history of New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada than I thought possible. I look forward to it opening again at the new location.

Over the years the Museum Gift Shop became my go-to place for birthday and Christmas presents–always an unusual book or something interesting to find. The Gift Shop has now moved to the Brunswick Square complex, 2nd floor.

Saint John North Market Wharf Mezzanine at Christmastime 2018.

This area leads to the North Market Wharf section, the site of some excellent restaurants and a boardwalk where I’ve have some great meals. Currently they are revitalizing the outside boardwalk/entertainment area into a world class destination.

A couple 360s for you. Click the pic and look around.

Below~ This was waiting for me on the way back to the car: Kings Square during the Blue Hour at Christmastime.

Notes~

Supermarkets and supermarket chains are a relatively new invention that began springing up in the late 50s. Prior to that you had your grocer with fresh produce and canned items, the butcher and baker were down or across the street, there were creameries and milk was delivered to your door and so on. Everyone had their specialty, and many stores and shops were in their 2nd or 3rd generation. They knew your face and your name and your kids names. And you knew their kids names.

A farmers market like this one harkens back to that time but is all nicely contained in not too big a space, and it works. With about 25 vendors nothing is overwhelming or exhausting. It’s a fun and an interesting place to go, and you can have lunch or coffee at the same time and watch the world go by.

The current trend of supermarkets of putting an entire clothing and household store right in the middle and making you walk almost the equivalent of an entire city block just to get to the cheese and dairy is almost asinine. Forgot something? Now you’ve got to walk all the way back again. This business of trying to be all things to all people doesn’t work. It’s not for you, it’s for them, and I’ll be glad to see the end of it. No wonder everybody looks tired.

Think about it for a minute: you could plop the entire Saint John City Market down into the space that takes up the clothing-and-household-and-crap-you-don’t-need section in these “super” markets (and what a difference it would make).

When I first visited in 2011 it was all very vibrant, as it was when I took these images in 2018. Since then it has taken some hits, as with all urban malls everywhere, and Covid plus changes in people’s shopping habits hasn’t helped. When I visited recently in November 2023 the Brunswick Square and Market Square appear to have lost some tenants, but the Saint John City Market has survived pretty much intact.

Regarding the panos on this page–these were early days for me making indoor panos and my exposures were off, but I’ve decided to post them anyway. For me it evokes that quiet day in December, 2018.

If nothing else, check out the Food Lover’s Guide to Saint John link below. Stuff about the Market and other places you may not know about. Cheers!