Three days, over a dozen curated vendors, and hundreds of Montrealers showing up to shop local in Griffintown: That's The Main's first-ever holiday market in a nutshell roasted on an open fire.
With a VIP night on November 21 and a holiday market open to the public on November 22 & 23 at IMAGEMOTION, the goal was to prove that a curated, easy-going yet well-designed market could hold its own against the usual holiday chaos.
We'd call it a success: Our VIP night kicked things off Friday with early access for paid subscribers, complimentary drinks, and Lightspeed CEO Dax Dasilva signing copies of his latest book with Eric Hendrikx, Echoes from Eden: A Daring Voyage to Protect Earth's Last Wild Places, right before tapping a keg from Dieu du Ciel! Meanwhile, people supported local makers and got first pick of the goods.
Then Saturday and Sunday brought the crowds with steady foot traffic and curious browsers.
The vendors
Thirteen names set up shop for the weekend, each one bringing something worth attention:
- Cidre Intrus — Natural cider from Quebec City that treats apples like a winemaker would grapes. Their bottles moved fast.
- Quartz Co. — Premium Canadian outerwear made in Montreal. The kind of jackets that last decades, not seasons.
- DOVA PRYCE — Genderless jewelry handcrafted in Montreal. Chunky, sculptural pieces that caught eyes all weekend.
- Dieu du Vin — Natural wine importer with bottles from 25+ countries. Biodynamic, organic, and full of personality.
- Lopez — Plaza St-Hubert's streetwear and skate shop. Carhartt WIP, Gramicci, Polar Skate Co, plus their own locally made collection.
- Malose — One-of-a-kind clothing from upcycled fabrics. Bold, playful, and completely original.
- Ōra — Recovery-focused wellness products rooted in Polynesian tradition. Their Monoi oil became a conversation starter.
- Boring Friends — Graphic design turned into wearable art. Nature-inspired prints that felt right for Montreal's creative crowd.
- Les Fermes Lufa — Fifteen years of rooftop farming and sustainable innovation, now offering fresh local produce and gift boxes.
- Slay O Zen — Playful streetwear with bold illustrations and dark-humor characters. Small-batch, handmade details throughout.
- Maison Carthia — Small-batch perfumes rooted in Mediterranean craft. High-quality scents that stood out in the room.
- La Compagnie Robinson — Heritage-inspired leather goods built to last a lifetime. Classic craftsmanship, modern appeal.
- The Dép — Curated local goods made well. Quality essentials, thoughtful production, and gifts people will actually use.
The space, sound, and suds
IMAGEMOTION gave us 4,000 square feet with 13-foot ceilings and street-level access to work with. That helped make it feel bright, clean, and spaceous enough that browsing didn't feel like a mosh pit.
Speaking of music: DJs Lou Roots, Shtarek (Tarek Ghaleb), and Evan C handled Saturday's soundtrack. Cece the Red brought Sunday's vibe.
Thanks to Dieu du Ciel!, we had a solid selection of cold cans to enjoy. The bar kept things flowing without turning the market into a party. People shopped, but not sloshed.
A first year's a solid foundation
So, could The Main pull off a market that felt like The Main? Curated, design-forward, and focused on makers with real local stories behind them?
The answer, based on this weekend, is yes.
Attendance hit our targets, vendors moved product, the space felt right, and the vibe stayed consistent. Most importantly, though, is that the people who came seemed to get what we were going for.
Big thanks, Montreal, and thanks to Lightspeed for helping to make it all possible. Their point-of-sale systems powered every transaction, and their support let us focus on curating the experience instead of worrying about logistics.
We're already hearing from readers and vendors about doing this again. Bigger venue? More makers? Extended hours? All possibilities for next year.
Thanks to everyone who showed up, bought something, told a friend, or just came through to see what we're proud to have built.
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