About Us

North America's Oldest Operating Food Shop

North America's Oldest Operating Food Shop. Operating since 1872 inside the St. Lawrence Market which opened in 1803 by Lt. Governor Peter Hunter. Brown Brothers owned by the Brown family till the mid 1970's before Anthony

bought the business and started introducing new innovative products .

St. Lawrence Market winner of 2012 National Geographic

Magazine's

Best Food Market in the World.

Anthony is a 4th generation butcher and his sons Pat and Joe

have been there ever since. We are the oldest butchers in the

market and still bring the rich history and traditions of

Browns Brothers. After modernizing the business, we were the

first meat vendor to directly sell to the public on a daily basis

and introducing various cuts of meats that no other in the food

industry offered. We grow as the community grows,

and in doing so continually offer new, fresh products that meets our customer needs. Our meats are hand cut on the premises.

Bringing the freshest quality meats to generations of families.

Christmas in the St. Lawrence Market

Photo is not dated. Photo taken in either North or South market. Top left yellow brick arch was featured in both buildings.

photo donated by Brown family

Christmas Night-Prep Inside the Market

Photo taken in the South market Building in the c1920's. Butchers would work all night to prep for early morning shopping crowd in Toronto.

photo donated by Mr. Bob Huff and son Rob.

The Brown Family c1900

Pictured is the Brown family with William Brown, his wife and 7 kids. Current research is ongoing with a complete Brown family history and how it relates to Toronto's food history.

Mr. William Brown 1930's

Cutting Fresh meats at Brown Brothers Meats stall. Todays store is in same location in the market. In the foreground is Toronto's first City Hall with it's bright colored stone arches still visible today. When visiting us you can view this arch in the picture and the produce vender who occupies this space.

Picture donated by the Brown Family.

Shopkeepers and customers pose in doorway, by Kennet, January 1895.
Round Pond Oklahoma Territory.

Round Pound, Okla. Terr. USA 1894

Close-up view of Broadway Street, Round Pond, Oklahoma Territory.

Shopkeepers and customers pose in doorway, By Kennett, January 1894.

Picture by U.S Nation Archives and Records Administration.

National Archives Identifier #540094