Union Station plaza to showcase city food with summer market

Union Station's newly renovated front plaza is about to become home to a summer food market starting next weekend.

The temporary market will offer a taste of the city and will run from July 6-Aug. 28. 

"It's going to present Toronto's best chefs, our restaurants, bakers and food entrepreneurs," said Coun. Pam McConnell, whose Ward 28 includes the century-old Union Station which is undergoing a $1-billion renovation.

The market is part of a much larger goal to "promote another meeting place for Torontonians," said McConnell who was also on hand Monday for the unveiling of the newly restored clock in front of the station.

The clock was one of the original, integral parts of the plaza when it was designed in 1927.

"The clock is even better than when we had it before," said McConnell. "Now, just like the trains, hopefully the clock will be on time, McConnell told CBC.

Restoration of the heritage clock included replicating the original face, cleaning the original mechanisms, and improving lighting.

Slated for completion next year, the massive public works project at Union Station includes a glass atrium that spans the tracks. An extensive excavation below track level is needed to make way for a new pedestrian shopping concourse.

All this is happening while the station — which serves 65 million Via Rail, GO Transit and TTC passengers annually — remains in use