Toronto's newest pop-up vintage market returns after a lockdown-related hiatus
A new vintage event series in Toronto, Ont. is ready to welcome shoppers again this weekend after a two-month hiatus due to provincial public health lockdowns.
The Toronto Vintage Pop-Up Market is happening Mar. 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Space on King, an event space near the Distillery District.
After two successful pop-ups in late 2021, COVID-19 restrictions on indoor gatherings forced market organizer Kris Finelli to put her brand-new event on pause.
But now the market is back, and this time for good — monthly pop-ups are planned for the rest of 2022.
The Mar. 27 event features 17 vintage vendors and local makers selling home decor, vintage clothing and accessories. The first five people to arrive at 10 a.m. will receive a door prize from the market vendors.
Finelli, who owns Golden Dayz Vintage, says a vintage-focused pop-up event was needed in the city after so many local sellers bonded online during the early days of the pandemic.
Last September, Finelli and five other sellers first gathered at a pop-up organized by west-end restaurant Donna’s. It was such a success that she knew she needed to expand the idea into a permanent series.
Toronto Vintage Pop-Up Markets was born, and Finelli welcomed her first set of vendors at Space on King in November 2021. A second market followed in December.
Seeing the vendors, many of them now her friends, come together at the market “makes my heart come outside of me,” she says.
Finelli opened Golden Dayz Vintage as an Instagram shop in August 2020, realizing a 16-year dream of opening a consignment store.
She now also sells online via Etsy, but says the in-person experience Toronto Vintage Pop-Up Markets provides is crucial to diversifying her business. Pop-ups are a great way to get in front of customers, interact with them face-to-face and enjoy a more traditional retail experience.
“A lot of us, our dream is owning a store,” she says. “We put so much into sourcing our pieces and loving them. So the markets are a rewarding feeling.”
Vintage vendors at the Mar. 27 market include:
Local artisans will also be on deck:
Admission is free, and masks are optional as per Ontario public health guidelines. Shoppers are encouraged to bring their own bags and cash, though some vendors accept debit and credit.
For vendor inquiries on future markets and or to keep an eye on upcoming pop-up dates, follow Toronto Vintage Pop-Up Markets on Instagram.
To see more vintage and resale events happening in Toronto and across Canada, visit our events calendar.