Toronto's shipping container market — 120 repurposed shipping containers arranged on a 2.5-acre site near Bathurst and Front Street, housing local small businesses, food vendors, bars, and event spaces. The most creative use of temporary retail space in the city: constantly evolving, endlessly photographable, and genuinely fun.
Neighbourhood: King West / Liberty Village · Address: 28 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON · Hours: Mon–Wed 11am–8pm | Thu–Fri 11am–10pm | Sat 10am–10pm | Sun 10am–8pm | Extended hours for events
Why Visit
STACKT Market turns old shipping containers into Toronto’s coolest playground for indie shops, pop-up food, craft beer, and constant events, all within sight of the CN Tower. It’s the kind of spot where you can discover your new favourite coffee, cider, or local designer in one afternoon.
What Makes It Unique
Nowhere else in Toronto has a full neighbourhood built out of shipping containers, with small local businesses rotating in and out every few months. STACKT isn’t just retail—it mixes ever-changing art installations, an on-site craft brewery, and live programming, so the vibe is always different. It feels experimental and actually is: the whole site is a temporary infill until developers break ground.
STACKT Market opened in 2019 on a 2.5-acre site near Bathurst and Front Street that had previously been a surface parking lot — a perfect emblem of the urban development model it represents. The concept: repurpose 120 shipping containers into leasable retail and food space for Toronto's small businesses, pop-ups, and food entrepreneurs, on a temporary footprint that can evolve and reconfigure as the city around it changes.
The format has been replicated in cities around the world, but STACKT was among the earliest and most successful iterations in Canada. The original appeal was the combination of form and function: the shipping containers look great — modular, industrial, colourful, instantly photographable — and they solve a real problem for small Toronto businesses that can't afford permanent retail space but need a physical presence. The low barrier to entry has meant that STACKT's tenant mix has always included emerging Toronto brands, food entrepreneurs testing concepts before committing to a storefront, and established businesses using it as a pop-up or seasonal activation.
The site includes food stalls, bars, retail shops, and a central event space that runs markets, live music, and themed pop-up events on most weekends. The outdoor nature of the market — containers open onto paths and plazas rather than enclosed corridors — means it's seasonally dependent in enjoyment, but the summer months from June through September are genuinely excellent for a half-day visit.
STACKT's success has been influential in Toronto's approach to temporary commercial space. Several other container-market concepts and pop-up retail zones have followed its model in the city. The original remains the best: the combination of location, size, and the range of tenant types creates the right kind of market density.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is STACKT Market Toronto?
STACKT Market is a 2.5-acre outdoor market built from 120 repurposed shipping containers at 28 Bathurst Street near Front Street West. It houses local small businesses, food vendors, bars, and event spaces, with rotating tenants and regular weekend programming. It opened in 2019 and is the largest container market in Toronto.
What can I buy and eat at STACKT Market?
STACKT has a rotating mix of food stalls, retail shops, bars, and pop-up experiences. The food and retail selection changes as tenants evolve — check @stacktmarket on Instagram before visiting for current vendor highlights. Summer months have the most active vendor lineup and event programming.
When is the best time to visit STACKT Market?
Saturday afternoon from noon to 4pm is the peak STACKT experience — all vendors are open, the weekly programming is active, and the energy is highest. STACKT also runs specific event weekends (markets within the market, artist pop-ups, themed evenings) that are worth checking the calendar for. Summer is the best season overall.
Is STACKT Market free to enter?
Yes — entry to STACKT Market is free. Individual vendors and food stalls charge for their products. Some events (concerts, ticketed markets) have entry fees; check the specific event before attending. The general market experience — wandering, browsing, eating — requires no admission.