City of Vancouver responds to petition to save Le Marché St. George

News of an online petition urging the City to re-consider its bylaws, which would impact on the day-to-day operation of Vancouver’s beloved neighbourhood grocery store and gathering place Le Marché St. George, has not only spread like wildfire, but it has also sparked a response from the City of Vancouver itself.

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While loyal customers took to social media to encourage others to sign the online petition aimed to save the artisanal marketplace, the City has responded with their own message via a press release, which states that it’s not about to shut down the popular East Vancouver locale.

In the press release, The City goes on to remark that, “reports about an imminent closure as early as this weekend are completely false. As stated yesterday [December 8], City staff will work with the owners to better understand business practices and look at options to enable the activities at Le Marche St George to continue.”

Selling a wide range of local products and offering a variety of baked goods, Le Marché St George has been approved as a fully-fledged grocery store, however, a recent complaint from a neighbour identified some bylaw issues related to the restaurant and special events that take place from time to time.

While regulations of food service industry falls to Vancouver Coastal Health, the City claims that they are “always looking to update outdated bylaws to enhance quality of neighbourhoods and support local independent markets and cafés, and looks forward to working with the owners to ensure the market and its activities can continue.