Toronto

Kensington Market 1976

Store fronts in the Kensington Market.

The Kensington Market is a neighborhood of shops that spill out onto the sidewalks to form a sort of open-air market. The neighborhood is centered roughly on the intersection of Baldwin Street and Augusta Avenue. Even on the best days, driving along the narrow one-way streets is almost impossible. The best way to visit this neighborhood is on foot.

Egg merchant in the Kensington Market.

The dominant cultures here are now Portuguese and Caribbean. In past decades, many Jews and Italians lived here, but most have moved to more affluent neighborhoods to the north-west. At the southern end of Kensington Avenue, you can now find a number of trendy cafes and clothing stores.

In an open-air store.

These photos were taken during my first visit to the market in the spring of 1976. I've returned to take photos many times since, but this batch still has my favorite photos of the market.

Shopping for flowers.

Fish merchant.