A coalition of tenants in the ByWard Market building in downtown Ottawa is asking city council to withdraw its current redevelopment concept for 55 ByWard Market Square, warning that the proposed redesign could force long-standing operations to close permanently.
Tenants raise alarm over food-hall vision
The newly formed ByWard Market Tenant Alliance, representing the building’s 16 tenants, launched a petition opposing a city plan that would transform the heritage interior into an open-concept food hall with communal seating and a second-floor patio. The merchants say the concept shifts emphasis from the present mix of retail and food outlets toward a configuration that would favour food vendors and exclude or marginalize existing specialty retailers and services.
“It’s going to affect our livelihood,” said Jacinto Anguaya, owner of Quichua World Market and Tickled Pink.
Merchants told InfoRadar they support investment in the building but fear the specific design and tenant priorities in the current concept would overlook long-standing tenants who have maintained foot traffic and character throughout the market. Tenants pointed to a string of severe challenges they have endured in recent years, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 convoy disruptions in Ottawa, labour stoppages and ongoing economic pressures.
Economic and household impact
Retailers in heritage markets often provide goods and services not easily replicated online. If the redevelopment reduces retail floorspace or raises rents to suit a new tenant mix, consumers may face fewer locally owned options and potentially higher prices for niche products and crafts. For the business owners, relocation or closure would mean lost revenue, staff layoffs and the erosion of multi-generational customer relationships.
- 16 tenants formed the group opposing the current plan.
- The proposed redesign would create an open seating food hall and a second-floor patio.
- Merchants cited survival through the pandemic, the freedom convoy and labour disruptions as context for their concern.
What’s at stake for the city
City councillors must balance heritage conservation, economic revitalization and the needs of small businesses when considering redevelopment schemes. A shift toward a food-centric model could increase short-term foot traffic but might also reduce the diversity of offerings that make the ByWard Market a tourist and neighbourhood destination. Decision-makers face pressure to ensure any refurbishment preserves affordable, long-term tenancy for independent operators while meeting urban design and accessibility goals.
The tenants’ petition asks council to repeal the current concept and to engage in further consultation to produce a plan that preserves a mixed-use tenancy and safeguards the livelihoods of existing operators. At the time of publication, the city’s detailed response timelines and potential adjustments to the proposal have not been released.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Building | 55 ByWard Market Square |
| Tenants opposing plan | 16 |
| Planned changes | Food hall, communal seating, second-floor patio |
As redevelopment discussions continue, the outcome will shape not only the commercial mix of a prominent downtown block but also the economic security of independent operators who argue they have been the backbone of the market through years of disruption. The coming council decisions will determine whether the project emphasises a new hospitality-driven model or protects the existing retail and service ecosystem that residents and tourists rely on.
