New Market Gives Old Montreal a Juice Bar, Café, and Barbecue Restaurant

Big food news for Old Montreal: the anticipated makeover of the former Café des Éclusiers, once home to the city's buzziest 5 à 7 scene, and Les Éclusiers par Apollo, will officially open May 1. Marché des Éclusiers, a hybrid market space from the owners of Mile End's popular breakfast restaurant Fabergé, will include vendors like La Petite Boulangerie, Boucherie Lawrence, Daily Catch Seafood, CAPÉ, Biolocaux, Spice Station, Le St. Leon maple syrup, Alvéole honey, Preservation Society, CULT Yogurt, Le Mouton Vert, Gaspésie Sauvage, and many more. "Marché des Éclusiers was developed with the goal of providing Montreal with a market that is fully representative of Quebec produce, and, significantly, is built on creating a community of food conscious farmers, vendors, small business owners and consumers," a press statement elaborated. David Kost, founder of Marché des Fermiers de Montréal/Montreal Farmers' Market, assembled the motley group of purveyors.

The multifaceted concept on de la Commune will offer a lot more than gourmet grocery items. VIN RX, a snack bar on the second floor, will serve up cured meats, cheeses, and other products sourced from Marché des Éclusiers's traders. A stall from Plateau Mediterranean restaurant Omnivore will sell dry goods, and prêt-à-manger dishes. Look, too, for Nectar + Xintury, a juice and craft spirits bar from Nectar & Mixology, the beverage consultancy run by cocktail guru Lawrence Picard. Market patrons can also get a farm-to-cup caffeine fix from new Montreal-based micro roaster Volcanic Organic. The café from Luis Yat and Jeanne Lavoie will offer hot and cold beverages, direct trade chocolate and coffee, baked goods, and some breakfast items. A new outpost of Diablos BBQ Smokehouse will give Lattuca Barbecue a seasonal rival when it also opens with the advent of the market in May. At Diablos's stall, customers will be able to order beer, wine, and mixed drinks (the venue's liquor permit belongs to, and is inclusive of Marché des Éclusiers) to wash down all that brisket and pulled pork. Lastly, Fabergé will introduce a weekend brunch service at the market sometime in June.

Marché des Éclusiers will be open for business daily from May 1 to November 30, with some participants, namely VIN RX and Diablos, open late (Sunday to Wednesday until 11 p.m., Thursday to Saturday until 2 a.m.). The market, located at 400 de la Commune Ouest, corner McGill, has a website, and is now live on Facebook and Instagram.