Toronto antique market owner cries foul over city's demand for payment

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All she wants is the City of Toronto to practise what it preaches.

Marlene Cook, owner of the Sunday Antique Market at St. Lawrence Market, was forced to close up shop for the COVID-19 pandemic.

But despite assurances from the city of leniency for market vendors — not to mention repeated pleadings from Mayor John Tory for landlords to cut struggling tenants a break — Cook says the city, under the terms of her lease agreement, still expects her to pay $18,000 per month to hold an event she’s forbidden from holding.

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“It doesn’t make any logical sense,” Cook said. “I’ve had a perfect payment record with the city for 30 years — I should not have to pay when I don’t have permission to operate.”

Unlike other market vendors, Cook is a licensee — not a tenant — and says the antique market is considered an event.

“(St. Lawrence Market vendors) have stores, and are open right now … and if they choose not to open, it’s their choice” she said. “It’s not my choice. I can’t open.”

Her monthly licensing payment allows her once-weekly access to the St. Lawrence Market Tent at The Esplanade and Lower Jarvis St.

“I can’t even keep a piece of paper in the building,” Cook said.

She’s been trying to get an answer from the city for six weeks, but repeated assurances of ‘rent deferment’ means she’s still obligated to pay $54,000 for the privilege of not being permitted to hold an event for three months.

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She’s frustrated because she said officials — from the mayor on down — are either unwilling or unable to understand her problem.

“They’re not listening,” she said. “The city should be held to a higher standard — all I hear is John Tory saying to independent landlords that they should help small business, but how can he say that when the city is charging me for venues I can’t use?”

When asked about Cook’s issue during a press conference this week, Tory reiterated assurances that tenants are granted rent deferments for three months.

Inquiries by the Sun resulted in the same answer.

Cook provided the Sun with letters, emails and text messages between herself and city staff, again all blindly parroting rent deferment without acknowledging her concern.

She says nobody would expect a wedding booked at St. Lawrence Market, the now-cancelled Toronto Pride festivities, or a trade show at the Direct Energy Centre to be full price because the venue cancelled the event.

“I just don’t get it,” she said.

bpassifiume@postmedia.com