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Food & Drink

Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto’s new outdoor market made of shipping containers

By Caroline Aksich| Photography by Caroline Aksich
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Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers
Stackt Market Photo by Caroline Aksich

For years, this 2.5-acre lot at the corner of Front and Bathurst sat vacant as the city debated its fate. The parcel of land is destined to one day become a park, but for the next few years, it has been leased to Stackt, Toronto’s newest fully-accessible market built out of 120 shipping containers. Stackt is a mix of event spaces, retailers, restaurants, services, galleries, and it even has its own brewery. With the shipping containers occupying only a third of the land, the remaining outdoor space has been landscaped with AstroTurf, a beer garden and a gravel pavilion that will soon feature a giant fire pit to keep the space animated straight through the winter months.

The programming planned so far includes concerts, al fresco movie screenings, flower-arranging seminars and various lessons, (how to skateboard, how to cook over open fire). It will also be the new home of the The Stop’s Night Market June 18 and 19. Founder Matt Rubinoff’s goal was for the market to appeal to everyone: kids, parents and kids at heart should be able to engage with the space. The containers are all insulated and also have A/C, so the market is prepped to stay open all year long. Vendors have rolling leases that span from two days to 18 months, which means that the offerings here will change regularly. Here’s a look around the space and what it has to offer.

There are various places that visitors can cop a squat. Like those chairs to the right:

Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

Or these benches:

Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

Or these cement stools by Stacklab:

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Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

These crates will eventually house flower and veggie gardens:

Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

Belgian Moon has taken over three shipping containers to create their first Toronto microbrewery:

Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

Those looking to have a pint or a flight can hang out in this giant hall...

Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

...or enjoy their drinks outside in the beer garden:

Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

Belgian Moon’s snack shack serves a mix of things to eat from around the Golden Horseshoe, including these pretzels (plain and cheese) from Brampton’s DasBrezelHaus:

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Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

This cinnamon sugar pretzel is also from DasBrezelHaus:

Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

The charcuterie board (with meat cured by Speducci Mercatto) was designed to pair with Belgian Moon’s brews. From left to right, there’s culatello, salame gentile, porchetta and a prosciutto made from Berkshire pork. The cheeses (all from the Cheese Boutique) include a triple-cream brie, a grassy Basque sheep’s milk cheese called etorki, a hunk of Grey Owl and a three-year cheddar:

Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

They’re also serving up sandwiches, like this one from the Junction Triangle’s Tuck Shop Kitchen:

Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

Mississauga’s Lion City, which has a cult-like following, is here serving their popular Singaporean laksa. The broth is a mix of aromatics (lemongrass, onions, ginger, shrimp paste), chicken stock, chili and coconut milk. Each bowl comes with rice noodles, tofu puffs, shrimp, fish cakes, cucumber and dollop of sambal:

Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

Hamilton’s beloved Donut Monster has their own container, which opens up onto Bathurst Street and has lineups out the door most weekends:

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Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

Reunion Island Coffee Roasters takes up two shipping containers. The shop’s doors open onto Bathurst and into the Stackt courtyard:

Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

There’s also a bubble tea spot called Bean and Pearl:

Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

Yam Chops, the vegan butcher, has a location here, too:

Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

Here’s the cheery home of Carmel Floral:

Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

Inkbox Tattoos offers Torontonians the option of getting temporary tattoos that last for up to two weeks. Their artists can also offer you the life-long ink option, if you’re not afraid of commitment:

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Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

Avant-garde creative agency Filmartist is here enticing people to pop in with their AR video display:

Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

This is one of the larger event spaces, but it’s currently being used as a selfie backdrop:

Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

Flow is pushing their new flavoured waters, but on Saturdays they’re also offering free yoga:

Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

House of Hayla makes monochromic vegan heels:

Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

This is Cofo Design’s first-ever retail space. OCAD and Ryerson grads adore Cofo because they help emerging designers get their home decor creations produced:

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Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

Endy’s first brick-and-mortar location is lacking bricks and mortar, but you can still try out their mattresses, duvets and pillows:

Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

Jacki Lang has a mini gallery with work from local artists available for purchase:

Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

Jomo Studio sells trendy concrete planters. They also host workshops where you can learn to make your own:

Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

69 Vintage is here selling bright togs:

Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

Dresden Vision’s specs come in a rainbow’s worth of colours. The Australian glasses are made out of durable, recyclable materials:

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Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

ArtPhere sells minimalist Japanese bags:

Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

Toronto-based Ellie Mae has a container here, too:

Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

The StartUp Here Toronto container displays a rotating selection of work by up-and-coming local designers:

Everything to do, see, eat and drink at Stackt, Toronto's new outdoor market made of shipping containers

28 Bathurst St., stacktmarket.com, @stacktmarket

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Caroline Aksich, a National Magazine Award recipient, is an ex-Montrealer who writes about Toronto’s ever-evolving food scene, real estate and culture for Toronto Life, Fodor’s, Designlines, Canadian Business, Glory Media and Post City. Her work ranges from features on octopus-hunting in the Adriatic to celebrity profiles.

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