Jean Talon Market, Public marketplace in Little Italy, Montreal, Canada
Jean Talon Market is a marketplace in Little Italy, Montreal, that stretches across several blocks with more than 300 vendors selling fresh produce, meat, cheese, spices, and prepared foods in both indoor and outdoor areas. The covered pavilions surround an open square where mobile stalls set up their goods depending on the season.
The marketplace opened in 1933 on the site of the former Shamrock Lacrosse Grounds, after the city planned a central location for food vendors. In the 1960s, temporary structures were replaced with permanent covered buildings that still define its layout today.
Vendors often speak French, English, and Italian interchangeably, reflecting the Little Italy neighborhood. Many stalls have been run by the same families for generations, who know their regular customers by name.
The marketplace is open Monday through Wednesday from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Thursday and Friday until 8:00 PM, Saturday until 6:00 PM, and Sunday until 5:00 PM. Visitors should arrive early in the morning when the selection is at its best and the aisles are not yet crowded.
During winter, outdoor stalls remain open thanks to custom-built enclosures and heating systems that withstand temperatures down to minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 Fahrenheit). This adaptation makes it one of the few year-round markets in North America that never closes for the season.
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