Area 506 Waterfront Container Village
The Area 506 Waterfront Container Village is a waterfront marketplace located along the Saint John River in Uptown Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. It was created by local non-profit Area 506,[1] with shipping containers located at a converted parking lot. It includes vendors located in the containers themselves or in food trucks. Vendors vary from retail, food, coffee, or gift stores. Founded by Ray Gracewood, the container village first opened on June 8, 2022,[2] operating annually from May to November.
Location | Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada |
---|---|
Coordinates | 45.2671918°N 66.0647517°W |
Address | 85 Water Street |
Opening date | June 8, 2022 |
Owner | Area 506 |
Number of tenants | c. 40 |
Website | area506 |
Description
The Area 506 Waterfront Container Village consists of over 60 shipping containers,[3][4] located on a converted parking lot on the waterfront of Saint John, New Brunswick.[5] It features over two dozen vendors that operate out of either the shipping containers or food trucks,[2] varying from retail, food, coffee, or gift shops.[6] The shipping containers, stretching 120 feet as of its opening year,[7] are also decorated through the work of multiple artists, such as from the "graffiti alley".[8][7] The marketplace is operated annually from May to November.[4]
History
On July 30, 2021, announcements were made for the proposed creation of the container village.[9] In early 2022, work was underway to repurpose shipping containers for a waterfront parking lot located in Saint John, which was to be converted into a tourist location.[5] In early May, containers started arriving to the site. On June 8, 2022, the container village opened for the first time,[2] initially containing 54 shipping containers with 27 vendors, as well as a stage for concerts.[10] The marketplace's opening coincided with the docking of the Oasis of the Seas in Saint John, which had been the city's largest cruise arrival.[2] In 2023, its second year of operation, the container village opened in May with around a dozen new vendors,[11] totaling to almost 40,[12] with expansions also having been made.[11]
See also
- Dordoy Bazaar, a marketplace in Kyrgyzstan which also use shipping containers
- Re:START, a temporary mall in New Zealand also made using shipping containers
- Shipping container architecture
References
- "Shipping container village : Canadian Port City gets creative with revitalization". India Shipping News. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- Brad, Perry (8 June 2022). "Waterfront Container Village In Saint John Officially Opens". Huddle.Today. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- "Container Village". AREA 506. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- "Area 506 Waterfront Container Village". www.discoversaintjohn.com. Discover Saint John. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- Urquhart, Mia (April 26, 2022). "Waterfront parking lot to transform into container village for concerts, cruise passengers". CBC. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- "AREA 506 Waterfront Container Village". tourismnewbrunswick.ca. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- Lothian, Robert (June 8, 2022). "Container village in Saint John opens gates to the public - New Brunswick | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- Abramson, Ben (5 June 2023). "Shipping Container Village: Canadian Port City Gets Creative With Revitalization". Strong Towns. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- Smith, Simon R. (August 5, 2021). "Waterfront container village coming to Saint John". Atlantic Business Magazine. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- Moore, Nick (8 June 2022). "'A very creative and clever idea': Saint John's new shipping container village charms visitors". Atlantic. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- Perry, Brad (May 18, 2023). "Waterfront container village opens Friday". Country 94. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- MacRae, Avery (2 June 2023). "Area 506 Waterfront Container Village enjoying strong start to season". CTV Atlantic. Retrieved 28 August 2023.