Vendors at the Trails End Farmers Market in Thorndale moved their operations outdoors Saturday after the market was ordered closed because of fire and life safety concerns. The market, located at 4370 Dundas St., was ordered to close Sept. 8 by the Thames Centre Fire Department after multiple inspections identified what the department called “serious fire and life safety deficiencies.” The closure order was approved by the Office of the Fire Marshal. Some of the fire code concerns include the lack of a sprinkler system and issues related to fire exits, according to information provided by the fire department. The building will remain closed until the outstanding inspection requirements are addressed and a follow-up inspection is completed. Rather than cancel Saturday’s market altogether, management worked with vendors Friday evening to develop a temporary outdoor setup in the parking lot. For vendors who rely on the weekly market for income, keeping their businesses running was important. “We count on this, so many people count on this, so many people’s livelihoods. And it was a little alarming. But they made a way,” said Rene McIntyre, a Trails End vendor. Sloane Liverman, another vendor, said her family depends on the income. “We’re a family run business and we have young kids. Food on the table is really important and it’s not an option. We have to show up” Mina Harms, a longtime vendor, said the market is one of her family’s biggest sales outlets. “We have a big farm, so this is one of our second biggest market we go to. So it would be a big impact. It would affect us a lot. Even our employees on farm.” The closure came as a surprise to some longtime vendors. Fred Sadat has been selling at Trails End for 25 years. He said he had never felt unsafe inside the building but wants the concerns addressed quickly. “Never had a feeling in here that something is not safe or something is going to it. This needs a serious attention.” Despite the building being closed, regular customers came out Saturday to support the vendors and buy fresh produce. “It’s cheap here and we can get like in less money, more quantity. As well, of course it’s a fresh and organic,” said customer Baljeet Ahluwalia. But the outdoor setup did not include all the vendors who normally operate inside the market. " I usually come here to get cheese and buns from a couple of vendors, but because they are not here, because the building is closed, I can’t buy from them and I am disappointed,” said frequent shopper Chris Bolt. For farmers selling perishable products, vendors say they can’t afford a lengthy disruption. “We are in a perishable business. I wish my farmer could tell the apple on the tree, ‘hey could you wait for a couple of weeks so we’ll come back, harvest you later, so we can sell you later?’ Unfortunately, the food industry has to continue,” Sadat said. Trails End management said it is working with the fire department and its legal team to address the outstanding concerns. For now, vendors say they will continue operating outdoors while they wait for the building to be cleared for use.
