Eau Claire Market to close May 31 to make way for Green Line LRT

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Demolition of the shopping area will begin in July and be completed in the fall, said current owner Harvard Developments

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Facing demolition for months to clear the way for the Green Line LRT, downtown’s Eau Claire Market will shut its doors at the end of May, it was announced Monday.

The 170,000-square-foot indoor market, which has struggled to gain a firm foothold in the city’s retail and entertainment landscape since it opened in 1993, will be handed over to the city May 31 in preparation for the eventual construction of a CTrain station on the site.

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Demolition of the shopping area will begin in July and be completed in the fall, said current owner Harvard Developments, which said it also has plans to redevelop part of the area.

“The closure marks the end of an era for Eau Claire Market, which has served as an eclectic hub for shopping, entertainment, and community events since its arrival in 1993,” the company said in a press release.

“The addition of the future Green Line Station is expected to be a catalyst for the site; supporting Harvard Developments’ plan to transform it into a mixed-use, transit-oriented area that aligns with the growth strategy of Downtown Calgary.”

Joey Eau Claire and Local Public Eatery will remain operating, said Harvard.

‘Like a ghost town’

The market has been dying a slow death, a demise accelerated by the announcement in January 2023 of the impending closure and the need for 50 tenants to close up shop or relocate, said John Yee, owner of Sumo Lounge that’s been a dining mainstay there for more than a decade.

“Business has dropped quite drastically (since January 2023) — a lot of businesses have moved on and moved out so people don’t want to come down here,” he said.

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“It’s been dead, almost like a ghost town.”

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Yee served his final customers at the end of last month and plans to auction off what restaurant equipment and furniture he can before moving to Nanaimo, B.C. where he might resume his business.

The recent demolition of the building that was once home to the Hard Rock Cafe on the northwest edge of the market was the latest sign of things to come, he said.

“Once the Hard Rock closed and after the 1990s, it kept deteriorating down here,” said Yee.

Farewell festival planned

A farewell festival at the market will be held May 11 as an opportunity for Calgarians to reminisce about downtown hub, said Harvard Developments.

“Over the years, Eau Claire Market has been more than just a shopping destination; it has been the backdrop for numerous events, and community gatherings,” said the developer.

“As the host site for the Calgary International Film Festival, Taste of Calgary, Pet-A-Palooza to Canada Day Celebrations and thousands of cultural performances, the market has left an indelible mark on the city’s social and cultural fabric.”

The Green Line is to ultimately run 46 kilometres from 160th Avenue in the north to Seton in the city’s far south, marking the largest infrastructure project in Calgary’s history.

The first $5.5-billion phase will include 13 stations extending from Eau Claire to Shepard.

BKaufmann@postmedia.com

X (Twitter): @BillKaufmannjrn

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