Downtown Eastside markets have strong future, insists board member

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Turmoil at the top has not stopped the buying and selling at three Downtown Eastside Street Markets.

All three markets are open – two of which made their debuts only last year.

In fact, the people overseeing their operation are confident they are here for good.

Roland Clarke, who coordinated the three markets, suddenly resigned a month ago citing funding frustrations with the city. The city is now in the midst of finding a new operator.

Sarah Blyth, who sits on the Downtown Eastside Street Market Society board, says the markets are prospering.

“I consider them a success because people are there, they’re selling things, they come back, they’re enjoying it. We get thousands of visitors.”

In fact, expansion is not out of the question.

“We’re also thinking of opening up alternative locations. There is some overflow that we didn’t expect. We have a lot of people on the site.”

The city was hoping the markets would draw the informal vendors off of East Hastings – something that many have argued has had limited success.

Vendors in the Downtown Eastside could conceivably sell their wares seven days a week, as there is always a market in that neighbourhood open. On Sundays, the older Pigeon Park market is open to the public. On Saturdays, the vending shifts to 501 Powell Street. And from Monday to Fridays, the market at 62 E. Hastings is the centre of activity.

The Downtown Eastside Street Market Society, meanwhile, has added its name to the list of possible new operators. It is proposing to run the markets in partnership with the Portland Hotel Society.

Blyth believes a decision on a new operator will come in about a month.