Midtown Market is back @ Yonge + St. Clair

A curated vintage market hosted by Good Friends Market in collaboration with the Yonge + St. Clair BIA

On August 5 and 6 from 4-8pm, Ossington flair took over Yonge + St. Clair. Transforming the parking lot beside Shoppers Drug Mart at 1501 Yonge, the Yonge + St. Clair BIA and Good Friends Market hosted an evening vintage market featuring 20+ vendors, yummy eats, live music, and good vibes.

Midtown Toronto came alive after work and it wasn’t just seen in the parking lot. Along the streets there were vibrant street decals redirecting foot traffic and office workers to visit the market, and visit they did. With ~3000 people the energy was magnetic and showed just how animated Midtown can be when the community comes together.

Weather the Weather

Even amongst the rain on day two, the crowds did not let up with neighbours lingering, coworkers caught up over street food, portraits being taken, and visitors spending hours chatting directly with vendors to hear the stories behind their vintage finds.

Some unique pieces and attractions we found from the vendors include:

Antique Bangles and Jewelry from Chosen By Cynthia

Safety Pin Keychains from The Corduroy Cat

Handmade Instant Portraits from The Bellows

Toast Lights from Tony Art Goods

We want to thank all the vendors at the market who made this possible, and Good Friends Market for coming back for the 2nd year running. And a special thank you to everyone in the neighbourhood who showed up and hung out with us.

What’s next

Summer isn’t over just quite yet. This Sunday, August 23rd, from 12-5pm, the same parking lot at 1501 Yonge is being transformed into a Barket Market for your furry best friend. RSVP for free and stay up to date with event updates and details here.

Stay in the loop on upcoming pop-ups, markets, and community events by checking our events page.

Some more moments from the market:

We Brought Some Sunshine to Yonge + St. Clair

A Free One-Day Flower Cart Pop-Up event, hosted by Yonge + St. Clair BIA

On July 16, something a little unexpected bloomed at the corner of Yonge and St. Clair. Stationed just steps from the intersection at 2 St. Clair West, the Yonge + St. Clair BIA set up a one-day flower cart – complete with yards of wrapping paper and hundreds of fresh stems – and handed out 250 free mini bouquets to anyone passing by.

Why flowers?

Every weekday, tens of thousands of office workers pass through our neighbourhood. We wanted to catch them on their morning commute with a small, unexpected gift. The idea was simple: create a feel-good summer moment that introduces the daytime crowd to the local businesses that make this a complete community, where you can work, shop, and find something beautiful all within a few blocks.

None of it would have been possible without three of our incredible member florists: Eden Flower Shop, Florigens Design, and Hi Flower Studio. Each contributed blooms and pre-made bouquets, and our team picked everything up that same morning so every stem was at its freshest when it landed in someone’s hands.

The best part? The stories.

Some bouquets were grabbed on the go, pre-wrapped and ready. Others were personalized and hand-wrapped on the spot by our team. And as the morning went on, we heard where they were headed: a welcome gift for a new manager, a visit to a loved one in the hospital, a surprise saved for mom, a sibling, or a significant other. Plenty of people told us something simpler: that a free bouquet just made the walk back to the office a little sweeter.

What’s next

This won’t be the last time we bring a little sunshine to the corner. Stay in the loop on upcoming pop-ups, markets, and community events by checking our events page.

Some of our favourite moments from the flower cart: