Representatives from about 25 local food businesses came to a meeting at Canoe Brewpub yesterday to find out more about renting space in the new Victoria Downtown Public Market.
After signing a deal with Townline to occupy an 18,000-square-foot space in the rehabilitated Hudson building, the market aims to launch in the spring of 2013, said market society chair, Philippe Lucas.
The society has been looking for a permanent home for many months and has held a temporary market in Market Square in the meantime. It will now put together a five-year management plan for the Hudson building.
The new market will have an industrial look, with poured concrete floors, Lucas said.
It will have 10 to 12 full-time stalls, 15 rotating stands and an outdoor area for tables, during special seasons such as Christmas.
Also in the space will be a community kitchen, rentable for cooking classes and other vendor demonstrations.
The market, Lucas said, "is a great example of the intersection between the shop-local and the eat-local movement."
For those interested in renting a space, email Lucas at philippe@victoriapublicmarket.com
rholmen@vicnews.com