Blackfoot Farmer’s Market Today

Given the sheer number of forgotten and abandoned places we get to visit (and we so love being that busy), it’s inevitable we cross paths with ones we’ve documented before. Quite honestly it’s sometimes hard to return as often the building or site is rarely as it was – for the worse. Usually we’re (re)greeted with further decay, or sometimes as it happens, the subject is entirely gone, or mostly so, with little to remind us of what was once here. While we were glad to know it, seeing it deteriorate further is sort of sad.

That’s the case with the Blackfoot Farmers Market, on 11st SE, that on our last visit stood complete, but abandoned soon after being shut down but today is nothing more than an empty lot. Sure there’s the trees that were there and lanes that marked each row of stalls and that red shale dating back to when it operated. And there’s other little hints here and there speaking of its past. Still, it’s like it never existed. And it’s a bit eerie.

Today the huge property sees some limited use and is a parking lot for trucks belonging to the Calgary Food Bank which is located less than a block away. Otherwise most of the property is empty. For now anyway. It’s ripe for redevelopment, so it’s only a matter of time. Till then, the trucks come and go, the wind gently blows, but most of the time it’s total silence and lost memories.

The Blackfoot Farmer’s Market (in some papers the Blackfoot Flea Market) dates from the 1980s, about mid point in that decade I’m told. Some papers say it’s from the 1970s but research suggests that might be in error. Or it may refer to an earlier location (not far away along Blackfoot Trail), that it it’s hinted operated before the current one. That might explain the name too.

It appears the Blackfoot was the first true open air farmer’s market in Calgary (modern era), a field which has since become crowded with many such venues to be found in the city today. The place, on a good weekend back then, would pull in huge crowds. The area here is industrial.

Fast froward to the 2000s and there’s a ton of competition in Calgary, many of them indoor and operating year round. And with the Blackfoot being the most out of the way and hard to find and perhaps the least visually attractive, business limped along. Often half the stalls were empty, rarely open, or sometimes simply abandoned, stock and all, and turn over was high. A new business would come in, last a few months, loose their shirts (presumably) and vanish forever, a new tenant perhaps taking their place for a time. Rinse and repeat. Foot traffic at this point was low and often there would be more stall keepers than customers. We’ve seen it.

And so the quality of products declined. Early on, it was produce and such grown by real farmers, that dominated, but as the years past, it become more of a junk store or swap meet type place. We’d visit from time to time in this period and it was clear the writing was on the wall. Instead of Hutterite chickens and potatoes, it was vendors selling the same produce as one could find at your local Co-op and for cheaper. We’re pretty certain they didn’t grow it themselves – bananas are not local to the area don’t you know.

Suffering along the Blackfoot closed with little notice or fanfare in about 2013 (a mercy killing). By then it was a literal ghost town. Team BIGDoer liked the raw and gritty vibe but that doesn’t pay the bills and I doubt others appreciated it as we did. Simply most people tended to shy away at the end. Even we did eventually.

There was a petting zoo on site – you know with goats and lambs and lots of little bunnies. Seems a few of the latter made their escape at some point, or were abandoned on closing, their descendants still roaming the property today. They’re quite friendly. A live-in caretaker kept an eye on things. Post closing the trailer they lived in became a sometimes home for the homeless.

Rows of trees mark each row or lane. It was common for some sellers to decorate them in some way, often with their wares (ratty old stuffed animals being common). A kid’s sand bucket is seen in one tree, but that’s all that was left there. In places some lots are clearly defined – some concrete barriers mark a perimeter of one, some old railway ties that of another. That red shale underfoot helped with drainage when it rained. Still, there’s very little left of this once popular attraction. It’s kind sad really – the current crop of Farmer’s Markets are perhaps a bit too “boutique” for our tastes. And so darn expensive. This one was more real. But I guess that doesn’t bring the dollars.

It’s not known if there was anything on the old Blackfoot property prior to the Market moving in. We searched old land records and came up empty. It’s also not clear what’s in store for the land, but we don’t expect it’ll remain empty forever. A section in back, mostly treed, was never used and is a bit wild in nature. We saw a couple deer down there. Here, in the big city.

Interestingly, one of the more popular Farmer’s Markets in town, the Calgary Farmer’s Market, an overpriced hipster haven in the eyes of many, is currently located on Blackfoot Trail just down the road a bit from this here site. While we’ve patronized it from time to time it just seems too gentrified and soulless. Yes, I said it. There are few real farmers there, most of the produce sellers pedalling stuff acquired from wholesalers, and the Hutterites, formerly a go-to when one wanted good quality veggies and stuff, for a nice price, becoming trendy and expensive. Hey, ride that wave.

If you want to see what the Blackfoot Market looked like just after it closed, check the link a paragraph below. We visited while it was still mostly intact (with permission), much of what was there still in place. It was simply amazing! And a bit strange too walking about the stalls and sale sheds, many still stocked, fully expecting someone to pop out and ask if we’d like to browse their wares. “This years crop of coconuts, which we picked fresh, are extra yummy. I have a great deal on eight-tracks. Going quick, a dining room set, slightly distressed, with four chairs kinds matching, one with three legs ” You get the picture. Soon after our tour the place was levelled. And now it’s gone and forgotten by most. What a sad ending.

From our earlier visit…
Blackfoot Farmer’s Market – creepy stuff!

Where people used to congregate…
Banzai Water Slide Park – dreaming of summer.
Rocky Mountain Raceway Park – gentlemen, start your engines.
Kart Gardens or Kart World? – a former fun factory.

If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!

Date: December, 2017.
Location: Calgary, AB.
Article references and thanks: City of Calgary Records, Calgary Food Bank.

The old Blackfoot Farmer’s Market Calgary – that red shale.

Lots of these friendly fellows about.

Little left overs here and there.

Visited as twilight began.

Mother Nature puts on a nice show.

And I got a rock…

Today the Calgary Food Bank parks trucks here.

There’s one…

These may be descendants of “petting zoo” bunnies.

Look for it…

A bucket.

There was once row after row of stalls here.

Up there in the sky…

And a final look.