Sault's new Mill Market will have even more vendor space

For over a year, two shipping containers remodeled into vendor spaces have been a success at the Mill Market in Sault Ste. Marie.

With the market soon relocating to the city's downtown, more of these mobile retail units will be available.

"2 of them will be full-service kitchens, 1 will be a light-duty kitchen and the remaining 2 will be retail space for crafters, artisans, etc,” said Mill Market’s general manager Robert Pryor.

The City of Sault Ste. Marie and the market jointly released a request for proposals to occupy the new spaces.

Occupying the mobile retail units will come down to bids, with no exact price for each space.

Instead, Mill Market officials will weigh a number of factors to determine what is best financially and for the fabric of the area.

“The businesses that want to be there the most, or the longest hours will certainly get a nod over others because it will just help ensure the viability of the new plaza itself, and benefit the market overall,” said Pryor.

Applications need to be submitted by 2 p.m. on June 10.

Pryor said he believes they will have a lot of interest from local makers.

“This current site is at capacity. Moving to the downtown location, not only for the market, but the mobile retail units and the plaza, will increase our spaces available for vendors between 10 and 15 percent.”

President of the Sault Downtown Association Nicholas Luck said that the added space is needed.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity for those folks trying to get a foot in the door setting up a shop right there in the plaza,” said Luck.

“It’s going to be a cultural and commercial hub.”

Pryor told CTV News that "virtually all" of the vendor spaces inside the downtown Mill Market are spoken for.

The plaza as a whole is expected to be completed by July 28.

However, Pryor said he expects the pads where the mobile units are located will be done well in advance and those vendors may have the ability to open "in early or even mid-July."