St Lawrence Market

[DSCToronto]

CC37.1 - C'est What Brewing at the Market By-the-Glass Permit Application to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario​

Consideration Type: ACTIONWard: 13 - Toronto Centre

Origin​

(February 3, 2026) Report from Mayor Olivia Chow

Recommendations​

The Mayor recommends that:

1. City Council advise the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario of its support of the application from C'est What Brewing at the Market at 91 Front Street East, for a Manufacturer’s Limited Liquor Sales License for sales by the glass.

Summary​

Craft beer pioneers Durham Brewing Company, propose to open a small craft brewery, beer store, and tasting room named C'est What Brewing at the Market on the lower level of the St. Lawrence Market South Market building. The new store would offer an immersive experience through a guest brewer program, food and beer education, and the consumer testing of new recipes.

In 1988, the owners of Durham Brewing Company founded C’est What, Toronto’s first craft beer bar. For over 36 years at their location at 67 Front Street East, C'est What has been a key advocate of the local beer industry, helping to bring craft beer into mainstream acceptance. Their master brewer is the well-respected Michael Duggan who has over forty years experience in the industry and was the founding brewer of Mill Street Brewery.

Background Information​

(February 3, 2026) Report from Mayor Olivia Chow on C'est What Brewing at the Market By-the-Glass Permit Application to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (CC37.1)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2026/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-284313.pdf

 

[CityPainter]

The Nealon House building at 197 King East, formerly part of the Sonder empire that went bankrupt last year, has now been taken over by a Canadian aparthotel company called Nester & Finn. The signage is already changed and the location is available to book on their website. I'm glad to see that the building will not sit empty. I hope they make this work -- and I hope they find a cafe or restaurant or similar tenant for the ground floor, too.