Ottawa's Byward Market

[sclement12]

Looks as though they're keeping half of the parking spots on the north end up the street. Does this mean they're turning it into a two-way street now with access from York?

[ponyboycurtis]

How could you possibly plan this project so it isn't open for Canada Day. Think of all the eyes around the market that wouldn't usually be there and be intrigued to return.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by ponyboycurtis

How could you possibly plan this project so it isn't open for Canada Day. Think of all the eyes around the market that wouldn't usually be there and be intrigued to return.

And for a project that's just two weeks. You'd think they would have wanted to completed this before Canada Day. Of course the entire ByWard plan was supposed to be complete by this year, but Sutcliffe sat on it until he was ready to water it down for twice the price.

[J.OT13]

Looks really nice. Obviously I'd prefer if they built at least part of Watson ByWard public realm plan by now, but I'll take colourful art work over the nothing we got otherwise.

[J.OT13]

The Market is DYING!

ByWard visits up 16% in 2025 compared with previous year, report says

Marissa Galko, OBJ
July 2, 2026

Visits to the ByWard Market exceeded pre-pandemic benchmarks in seven of 12 months last year, according to new data from the ByWard Market District Authority. In its 2025 annual report released last week, the BMDA said the area recorded 25,571,844 visits in 2025, 3.5 million or 16 per cent more visits than in 2024. Last […]

https://obj.ca/byward-visits-up-16-in-2025-compared-prev-year-report-says/

They added big weird semi circular screens in the Market, blocking the view of the Market Building, they call the "O".

https://www.instagram.com/p/DaTAkPCDs6D/?img_index=4

[J.OT13]

Business owners call on city to repeal redevelopment plan for ByWard Market building

By Ted Raymond, CTV Ottawa
July 14, 2026

A coalition of tenants in the historic ByWard Market building are calling on the City of Ottawa to repeal its plan to redevelop the building.

The ByWard Market Building Tenants’ Alliance consists of the owners of 16 businesses in the building, including the ByWard Café, Moulin de Provence, Canada in a Basket, Eclection, and others. It delivered a petition to Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and city councillors on Tuesday saying tenants “vigorously oppose the recommended ‘reimagining’ strategy.”



“We the undersigned tenants urge Ottawa City Council to immediately repeal the ByWard Market Building ‘reimagining’ strategy at the next appropriate City Council meeting. A prompt repeal would mitigate the severe business uncertainty triggered by the City’s proposed ‘reimagining’ strategy and the certain future harm to the ByWard Market caused by the renoviction of the building’s 17 food and craft tenants in order to apply the City staff’s misguided vision for the building,” the petition says.

The ByWard Market revitalization plan was approved by city council in March. The plan includes a $40.2 million project to redevelop the building at 55 ByWard Market Square.

“The historic building will be rehabilitated to feature a bright central hall, space for nostalgic food-based anchor tenants, such as a local specialty grocer and bakery, rotating food and beverage vendors, and flexible event space to support community gatherings, cultural programming, and celebrations,” said a staff report prepared for the March 11 meeting. “Enhancements include skylights, improved circulation, and full accessibility, including a new elevator and universal washrooms.”

City staff say the ByWard Market District Authority (BMDA) administers the master lease agreements for tenants at 55 ByWard Market Square, and that the city would continue to respect existing lease terms, including provisions related to notice, relocation, and termination associated with municipal construction.





BMDA executive director Victoria Williston told CTV News Ottawa in a statement that the city has authority over municipal assets, and the BMDA acts as a landlord.

“The BMDA does not have decision-making authority over future plans for City assets. Our role is that of landlord, and decisions about the properties’ future rest with the City Council and City staff,” she said.

Work on 55 ByWard Market Square is not expected to begin for several years. Staff say redevelopment impacts in the wider ByWard Market are anticipated to commence in 2028, with 70 Clarence Street affected first, followed by York Street Plaza, and 55 ByWard Market Square at a later stage, subject to detailed design, funding, and staging. The timeline was purposefully phased to avoid conflicts with the ByWard Market’s 200th anniversary in 2027.

Tenants say the approved plan is vaguely defined and offers no justification for replacing the current businesses in the building.

Khaled Farhat, owner of the ByWard Café, told CTV News Ottawa he’s worried about being displaced.

“We’ve been here for a long, long time; 28 years. It’s a family-run business. We’ve been through good times, bad times, but, at the end, we’re making a living. It’s our livelihood and we want to keep doing it,” he said.

“If they decide to go through with this, our family income will be gone. And not only me; we have 10 employees.”

Farhat says some of the recent changes to the ByWard Market have been nice, but he hopes the city listens to the business owners and keeps them from having to move out for renovations.

“It should stay the same and if it needs to be fixed, just keep fixing it, and let these people keep making a living here.”

The petition is asking for an immediate meeting between the Tenants’ Alliance, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Rideau-Vanier Coun. Stéphanie Plante to obtain their commitment to seek City Council approval to repeal the ByWard Market Building plan and redirect the $2.7 million earmarked for the redesign of the building toward “more useful and less harmful purposes.”

Tenants also suggest upgrading the public washrooms and improving access to the upper floor.

City council meets Wednesday, followed by a six-week break before the next meeting, which is scheduled for Aug. 26.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/bu...hem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=bluesky

[J.OT13]

‘Beautiful, bright space:’ New public square looks to help revitalize the ByWard Market

By Kimberley Johnson, CTV Ottawa
July 12, 2026

Ottawa’s most popular tourist destination has a new attraction.

The “Carré ByWard Square” is a new public gathering space located on ByWard Market Square, the George Street Plaza and the plaza in front of EQ3, offering live music, vendor stalls, a licenced bar and seating areas in an effort to revitalize the area and bring people from across the city this summer.

The 12-week pilot project, built by the City of Ottawa and the ByWard Market District Authority, also features a play area with play structures described as “spinning tops” and local pop-up vendors.


Victoria Williston, executive director of the ByWard Market District Authority, says seating in the area is meant to support local businesses.

“There are a lot of cafes and patios in the district, but then there are also a lot of shops where they aren’t able to have a patio or even cafe seating out front, so they are limited to the inside,” Williston said. “In the summer, people do want to be outside, and they want to be enjoying the sun and the space.”



Part of the project is a vendor village featuring primarily of ByWard Market businesses.

Lindsay Da Silva, one of the owners of Smart Shop Thrift Shop on Dalhousie Street, has three dates as a pop-up vendor hoping to draw more local and tourist business to her brick-and-motor vintage clothing store.

“(It) puts us on the map, and let them know this is what, we carry at our store,” she said.

“We just wanted to be more in person with the community in the ByWard Market. We’re not too far on Dalhousie Street, but we wanted to reach out and come into a really fun space.”





The installation of the square faced pushback with some business owners who worried the construction would block parts of ByWard Market Square, the street that runs to the west of the ByWard Market building, on Canada Day, when thousands of visitors descend on the area.

The city reduced the construction footprint on Canada Day to give visitors more access to George Street and ByWard Market Square.

Some businesses say now that it’s here, they are optimistic.

“Especially after the live music is ending or before it starts, people are looking for something to do,” said Elie Kazzi, manager of Oh So Good. “They are pretty close so they end up coming here.”

Carré ByWard Square will remain open until September 27. Williston says programming will primarily happen Thursday through Sunday, but the square itself will be open 24 hours.

Williston says there will be security on-site at all times and bags will be checked to address public safety concerns.

“If you wanted to come and sit down here at 11 at night, you can we do have security 24 hours, seven-days-a-week. There will be that safety and security element there as well, because that is paramount to what we do and what happens in the vibrant market.”

Brian Babb spent the morning with his three kids in the area. The east end resident says it’s been a few years since he’s come to the area, but appreciates the family-friendly activities.

“We love it. It’s great to come out to the market again,” he said. “I got to say, this is a big change. It’s a nice turnaround, and it’s good to see families out and everybody smiling and having a good time.”

Ottawa resident Dan Kreft comes to the ByWard Market often and says he’s supportive of the new space.

“A beautiful, bright space. I love the fact that we have areas to sit outside and chill and enjoy the music here.”

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/be...ks-to-help-revitalize-the-byward-market/

[kevinbottawa]

I was in market a few weeks ago. The changes are well done. A lot people, including families, there. There was actually some buzz.

[Richard Eade]

My in-laws and I went down to the ByWard Market to have a nice dinner before going to the Ottawa Bluesfest show in the evening – to see Guess Who. I know. We could have simply grabbed a $17 Mary Brown’s Chicken at Bluesfest. But they hadn’t been downtown in decades, so I suggested ‘The Market’.

I took the train from the afternoon Bluesfest, and they drove from Kanata to Tunney’s Pasture and took the train from there. I won, arriving 7 minutes ahead of their train. It was Sunday, but the trains seemed to be running 7/8 minutes apart. Excellent for moving people to Bluesfest.

Once they arrived at the Rideau Station, I guided them to the appropriate end of the station to ascend to William Street, and not the Rideau Centre – since the concourse doesn’t go through in the Rideau Station. About half way up, my brother-in-law asked “How many floors down are we?” And it is true. The station is deep enough that it takes a while to circle up the escalators. Interestingly, there were more people who waited for the elevator than opted for the escalators – and I think that they were up to ground level faster than we were.

OK. I had not been following the World Cup. Thus, I didn’t know that the restaurants would be crowded. Good for them – Bad for me. I was looking forward to getting Fish and Chips at Aulde Dubliner & Pour House. Alas, they claimed to be ‘full’. It seemed odd, since there were still empty tables outside. Maybe it was just how I looked. I hadn’t shaved so that I’d blend in with all of the other old-timers while we watched Guess Who.

The Grand pizzeria & Pub had no problem seating us – as long as we were fine outside, not watching the game. We found their pizza to be, as my sister-in-law termed it, minimalist. I chose ‘The Grand’, figuring that it must be their signature special, stacked with everything but the kitchen sink. It was a rather mediocre pizza with ingredients only on the middle 2/3, and a wide, bare, crust surrounding. For toppings it had a skim of rather bland sauce, mushrooms, a few mozzarella toonies, and black olives. C’est tout. It was not what I would have put the company name on.

My sister-in-law had a ‘Hawaiian’, which came with the usual ham (well, prosciutto crudo, so not strictly the Canadian-invented Hawaiian Pizza) and pineapple – but it also had pepper rings that she found a bit ‘warm’. They actually made a nice addition to bring out some flavour on my pizza.

After our meal, they wanted to walk around ‘The Market’. There was a small crowd (which CTV NEWS estimated to be about 450 people) trying to watch the soccer game on an outdoor screen, but from the east side, a yellow pop-up tent was blocking the view across a large empty section that was cordoned off. Because of the poor sight-lines, spectators really needed to be straight in front of the monitor to view the game. It was not ideal.

The Market Building was still open so we went in. And walked along the central corridor, glancing at the offerings, and out the other end. There was really very little to give any appearance that the building was in any way heritage, or interesting, itself. That is not to say that the little shops didn’t have interesting things – but we were not in the mood for jewelry, shirts, or a café.

The new ‘tented’ area seems OK. I’m not sure why they had to put in a wooden platform (with construction over Canada Day). The original Market Stalls worked with just asphalt underneath for centuries. And I understand that those new stalls are a rotation of ‘pop-up’s from existing stores from the area – sort of like an advertisement space. I’m not sure that that is enough to draw new people to The Market, to see nothing different. The play area seemed to be occupying the children.

All in all, my in-laws’ opinion was “What is supposed to be the big draw?” They used to go to The Market for clubs like Stoney Mondays, Le Bop, and Houlihan’s, but those days are long past. The City found that there was TOO MUCH nightlife happening in The Market and put a stop to that nonsense.

Granted, it was a Sunday night, but still. There were probably 150 people standing on Williams Street watching the game on a little 50” screen that Barrio put out on its patio. The (estimated) 450 people at the Mayor’s screen wasn’t all that great for a World Cup Game.

So, what would make The Market great again? Ah, a food court – sorry Food HALL. That’s what’s missing – obviously.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

My in-laws and I went down to the ByWard Market to have a nice dinner before going to the Ottawa Bluesfest show in the evening – to see Guess Who. I know. We could have simply grabbed a $17 Mary Brown’s Chicken at Bluesfest. But they hadn’t been downtown in decades, so I suggested ‘The Market’.

....

You kind of lost me right there.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

You kind of lost me right there.

Ok, gotta call you out on this one. If you can’t find a nice place to eat dinner in the Market, I don’t think the Market is the problem. There are probably 20 good restaurants right there and a load of great patios.. Granted, the Grand isn’t one of them (pretty touristy) but to suggest there are no good places to eat is ridiculous

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by phil235

Ok, gotta call you out on this one. If you can’t find a nice place to eat dinner in the Market, I don’t think the Market is the problem. There are probably 20 good restaurants right there and a load of great patios.. Granted, the Grand isn’t one of them (pretty touristy) but to suggest there are no good places to eat is ridiculous

I don't know for wood fired pizza the Grand is the best option in Ottawa IMHO.

I think there aren't too many other "best in Ottawa" options in the Market.

La La and Le Mien do noodles well. The Keg can hold it's own (Baton Rouge probs still #1) for chain steakhouse. Chez Lucien for greasy spoon. El Camino for Tacos though the Elgin Street one is nicer IMHO food is the same.

Are we still comparing a food hall to a food court? I know if would chase away the cheap souvenir shops but would be an actual destination. Enjoying a beer on a Clarence Street patio is still a great tourist in your own city experience but there aren't a lot of other unique experiences to fill seats on a rainy or colder day.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

I don't know for wood fired pizza the Grand is the best option in Ottawa IMHO.

I think there aren't too many other "best in Ottawa" options in the Market.

La La and Le Mien do noodles well. The Keg can hold it's own (Baton Rouge probs still #1) for chain steakhouse. Chez Lucien for greasy spoon. El Camino for Tacos though the Elgin Street one is nicer IMHO food is the same.

Agree on the Keg, though not unique to the Market. Amazing how well that place does all through the year.

For pizza, I would put Gulia well above the Grand, but to each their own. Great patio too.

As for other top notch places in the Market, I'd add Ember, Alora, Eighteen, Sidedoor, Luxe, Daphnée, Ocelli, Barrio, Fatboys Corazon de Maiz and the Metropolitan. If people can't find something you like at any of those places, I don't know what to say.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

My in-laws and I went down to the ByWard Market to have a nice dinner before going to the Ottawa Bluesfest show in the evening – to see Guess Who. I know. We could have simply grabbed a $17 Mary Brown’s Chicken at Bluesfest. But they hadn’t been downtown in decades, so I suggested ‘The Market’.

I took the train from the afternoon Bluesfest, and they drove from Kanata to Tunney’s Pasture and took the train from there. I won, arriving 7 minutes ahead of their train. It was Sunday, but the trains seemed to be running 7/8 minutes apart. Excellent for moving people to Bluesfest.

Once they arrived at the Rideau Station, I guided them to the appropriate end of the station to ascend to William Street, and not the Rideau Centre – since the concourse doesn’t go through in the Rideau Station. About half way up, my brother-in-law asked “How many floors down are we?” And it is true. The station is deep enough that it takes a while to circle up the escalators. Interestingly, there were more people who waited for the elevator than opted for the escalators – and I think that they were up to ground level faster than we were.

OK. I had not been following the World Cup. Thus, I didn’t know that the restaurants would be crowded. Good for them – Bad for me. I was looking forward to getting Fish and Chips at Aulde Dubliner & Pour House. Alas, they claimed to be ‘full’. It seemed odd, since there were still empty tables outside. Maybe it was just how I looked. I hadn’t shaved so that I’d blend in with all of the other old-timers while we watched Guess Who.

The Grand pizzeria & Pub had no problem seating us – as long as we were fine outside, not watching the game. We found their pizza to be, as my sister-in-law termed it, minimalist. I chose ‘The Grand’, figuring that it must be their signature special, stacked with everything but the kitchen sink. It was a rather mediocre pizza with ingredients only on the middle 2/3, and a wide, bare, crust surrounding. For toppings it had a skim of rather bland sauce, mushrooms, a few mozzarella toonies, and black olives. C’est tout. It was not what I would have put the company name on.

My sister-in-law had a ‘Hawaiian’, which came with the usual ham (well, prosciutto crudo, so not strictly the Canadian-invented Hawaiian Pizza) and pineapple – but it also had pepper rings that she found a bit ‘warm’. They actually made a nice addition to bring out some flavour on my pizza.

After our meal, they wanted to walk around ‘The Market’. There was a small crowd (which CTV NEWS estimated to be about 450 people) trying to watch the soccer game on an outdoor screen, but from the east side, a yellow pop-up tent was blocking the view across a large empty section that was cordoned off. Because of the poor sight-lines, spectators really needed to be straight in front of the monitor to view the game. It was not ideal.

The Market Building was still open so we went in. And walked along the central corridor, glancing at the offerings, and out the other end. There was really very little to give any appearance that the building was in any way heritage, or interesting, itself. That is not to say that the little shops didn’t have interesting things – but we were not in the mood for jewelry, shirts, or a café.

The new ‘tented’ area seems OK. I’m not sure why they had to put in a wooden platform (with construction over Canada Day). The original Market Stalls worked with just asphalt underneath for centuries. And I understand that those new stalls are a rotation of ‘pop-up’s from existing stores from the area – sort of like an advertisement space. I’m not sure that that is enough to draw new people to The Market, to see nothing different. The play area seemed to be occupying the children.

All in all, my in-laws’ opinion was “What is supposed to be the big draw?” They used to go to The Market for clubs like Stoney Mondays, Le Bop, and Houlihan’s, but those days are long past. The City found that there was TOO MUCH nightlife happening in The Market and put a stop to that nonsense.

Granted, it was a Sunday night, but still. There were probably 150 people standing on Williams Street watching the game on a little 50” screen that Barrio put out on its patio. The (estimated) 450 people at the Mayor’s screen wasn’t all that great for a World Cup Game.

So, what would make The Market great again? Ah, a food court – sorry Food HALL. That’s what’s missing – obviously.

Originally Posted by phil235

Ok, gotta call you out on this one. If you can’t find a nice place to eat dinner in the Market, I don’t think the Market is the problem. There are probably 20 good restaurants right there and a load of great patios.. Granted, the Grand isn’t one of them (pretty touristy) but to suggest there are no good places to eat is ridiculous

Thanks for walking us through it.

The wooden platform I think you're talking about is supposed to be a stage for I assume shows (bands and whatnot). This new corner they built up probably helps the stalls along the Freiman wall. I have mixed feelings about it all.

Really not impressed with the whole Food Hall idea, displacing businesses that have been there for decades. One good thing about the current businesses is that they open up to the inside and outside. I doubt the Food Hall kiosks would have counters on both sides, removing a lot of life from William and Byward Market Square.

Originally Posted by phil235

Agree on the Keg, though not unique to the Market. Amazing how well that place does all through the year.

For pizza, I would put Gulia well above the Grand, but to each their own. Great patio too.

As for other top notch places in the Market, I'd add Ember, Alora, Eighteen, Sidedoor, Luxe, Daphnée, Ocelli, Barrio, Fatboys Corazon de Maiz and the Metropolitan. If people can't find something you like at any of those places, I don't know what to say.

Thanks for the recommendations!

For The Grand, I do wonder how the Westboro Beach location compares to the Market one.

[2posting2ottawa]

I don't know where the idea that the market doesn't have clubs or young people aren't going out comes from other than Gen X nostalgia for spots that haven't been open or relevant for 20 years. The club scene in Ottawa has been growing year over year consistently and finally recovered from COVID killing half the spots. History Ottawa is opening in a few weeks.

The market doesn't need a new food hall or pedestrianization it just needs a larger and better equipped year round event space where the parking is on York.

Bank street actually needs significant public investment and new destination spaces but the Market plan takes up all the oxygen with endless debates about pedestrianization.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

For The Grand, I do wonder how the Westboro Beach location compares to the Market one.

Haven't been, but it looks very cool. I know the tables in the gondolas are pretty pricey. Can't remember the exact amount of the surcharge, but it was enough to put us off.

[ponyboycurtis]

Papa Spicy is my jam. I like it when the servers barely speak english. Thats when you know it's good. Shanghai Wonton Noodle House also got that layer of grime on it that tells you its good.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by 2posting2ottawa

I don't know where the idea that the market doesn't have clubs or young people aren't going out comes from other than Gen X nostalgia for spots that haven't been open or relevant for 20 years. The club scene in Ottawa has been growing year over year consistently and finally recovered from COVID killing half the spots. History Ottawa is opening in a few weeks.

The market doesn't need a new food hall or pedestrianization it just needs a larger and better equipped year round event space where the parking is on York.

Bank street actually needs significant public investment and new destination spaces but the Market plan takes up all the oxygen with endless debates about pedestrianization.

History isn't a club, it is an event space that is open a few times a month.

I think Gen Xers remember a time when there were large venues in the area, which are more or less all gone.

It is a worldwide trend. I have seen several articles recently on the decline of Berlin's famous club scene.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by acottawa

History isn't a club, it is an event space that is open a few times a month.

I think Gen Xers remember a time when there were large venues in the area, which are more or less all gone.

It is a worldwide trend. I have seen several articles recently on the decline of Berlin's famous club scene.

Only 7 shows in September and 11 shows in October. Then it drops to 5 each in November and September. Not sure how they can sustain a full employee base with so few shows.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Only 7 shows in September and 11 shows in October. Then it drops to 5 each in November and September. Not sure how they can sustain a full employee base with so few shows.

Will they be renting the space out for private events?