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We Are OPEN! Full Safety Plan

By February 26, 2021June 25th, 2021No Comments

JULY 3/21 UPDATE: All doors are now open for entry and exit to accommodate traffic flow and social distancing guidelines. We have also added additional hand sanitizing stations throughout The 400 Market.

JUNE 7/21 UPDATE: We will be reopening in STAGE 2. We are excited to see you all again!

November 27/20 UPDATE: All doors are now open for entry and exit to accommodate traffic flow and social distancing guidelines. We have also added additional hand sanitizing stations throughout The 400 Market.

July 14/20 UPDATE: Just a friendly reminder that masks are now MANDATORY to enter public shopping areas as mandated by the Simcoe Muskoka Health Unit.

In collaboration with the Ontario Public Health and other City partners, The 400 Market continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation. Since 1986 The Market has been a community anchor offering fresh fruits and vegetables as well as products and services to the local community and surrounding areas.

The 400 Market is a retail establishment that under guidance from the Province of Ontario will continue to provide service and provide the local community local foods and products through our individual merchants.

The 400 Market hours of operation during the COVID-19 situation. The Market will be open to the public for the following hours of operation.

Entrances (1): South (main double doors)

Exits (6): All exit doors will have signage stating them as exits only.

Hours of Operation: Shopping- Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Merchant Only Hours: Friday and Monday 8am to 4 pm./ Saturday and Sunday from 7:30am to 9:00am for merchant set-up.

Merchant Parking: Merchants will be required to park at the north parking area ONLY until further notice. The Markets only one entrance is the south side of the building, the south and east parking areas are to be for customers only to facilitate customer convenience and a better shopping experience.

The 400 Market merchants have the option to not open their store or outdoor stalls. Those that exercise the option to remain closed will have signage posted.

While further information becomes available through the Medical Officer of Health, The 400 Market continues to exercise an abundance of caution and take the following additional actions related to the developing COVID-19 situation.

Actions taken by The 400 Market and useful information for shoppers:

Customer Traffic and Hours of Operation

  • The 400 Market is open every Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  The 400 Market is closed to the general public Monday to Friday.
  • The 400 Market will designate the south parking area as well as the east lot for customers only to insure easier accessibility to the one market entrance.  
  • Customer traffic at The 400 Market tends to be lighter during the early morning and late afternoons, however capacity is managed every day to ensure that customers have space to perform physical distancing while shopping for the items that they need.
  • The first hour of shopping currently sees the lowest number of customers, as the lunch hours tends to be the busier hours of operation.
  • The 400 Market will manage capacities, The 400 Market encourages customers to reserve 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. daily for shopping access for seniors and other vulnerable community members.
  • The 400 Market will remove all wheelchairs and children strollers and will no longer be made available until further notice.

How to shop at The 400 Market

  • To help perform physical distancing and stop the spread of COVID-19, The 400 strongly recommends that customers take the following steps when shopping for food at the Market:
    • Remember to sanitize your hands when you enter and exit the Market, as multiple hand sanitizing stations will be placed at all entrance exits and washrooms.
    • Practice good hygiene and avoid touching your face.
    • Order in advance when possible.
    • Come to the Market with a plan.  Pick up any item(s) that you need and avoid activities that encourage social gathering or congestion.
    • Avoid unnecessarily touching products. Ask merchants for assistance if you have questions.
    • Maintain a physical distance of 2 meters at all times from other customers and staff.
  • The 400 Market asks that customers shop alone or with one other person if possible. Customers are reminded to practice physical distancing and not to shop in large groups. Families coming to shop at The 400 Market in small groups will be permitted inside the Market. The 400 Market appreciates customers’ commitment to physical distancing inside the Market for the wellbeing of all customers, merchants, farmers, vendors and staff. 
  • Signs have been posted on all exterior doors to remind customers that they should not enter the Market if they are sick, have symptoms of COVID-19, have recently travelled or have been in contact with anyone confirmed to have COVID-19.
  • Signs have been posted near all exterior door entrances that remind costumers of the Market to practice social distancing and to practice good hygiene.
  • Ontario Public Health has mandated the use of cloth masks or face coverings. The best protection from COVID-19 is to stay home, keep two metres (or six feet) from others and wash your hands often. A cloth mask or face covering must be used when shopping, entering and leaving a building.


Wearing a cloth mask or face covering is currently a requirement of The 400 Market customers, merchants, farmers, vendors or staff.

For more information on COVID-19 and cloth masks or face coverings please review the Simcoe Muskoka Health Fact Sheet on COVID-19 and Masks and Face Coverings for Personal Use. This information is available at https://www.simcoemuskokahealth.org/Topics/COVID-19

Entrances, Capacity & Screening

  • During operating The 400 Market may require entrance screenings of all visitors including customers, staff and delivery personnel. Screenings will be conducted at the market entrance.

    Screenings will include the following questions:

    • Do you have any of the following symptoms?
      • Fever
      • Cough
      • Difficulty breathing
      • Muscle aches and tiredness
    • Have you travelled outside of Canada within the past 14 days?
    • Have you been in close contact with someone who is confirmed or who is suspected to be ill with COVID-19?
  • Visitors who answer yes to any of these screening questions will be advised not to enter the Market.
  • Screenings are intended to protect the wellbeing of customers and those working in the Market. All visitors are asked to answer questions truthfully and to the best of their ability.
  • The 400 Market is allowing priority access for healthcare workers and first responders such as police officers, EMTs and firefighters. Market customers who provide identification of their role will be allowed to move to the front of the line to enter the Market.
  • In addition to centralizing entrances the Market is reminding customers to keep physical distance when entering the Market. Physical distance markers have been placed or marked on the ground at entrances in the form of stanchions, “x” paint marking and/or tape lines.
  • To help customers perform physical distancing the Market will continue to limit the number of customers inside the building at this time.

Physical Distancing

  • Customers are reminded to keep physical distance from each other, merchants and staff when at the Market. Physical distancing means keeping 2 metres apart from others.
  • Signs have been posted around the Market including to remind customers and staff to physically distance themselves from each other.

Visitors to the Market should come to get the items they need and refrain from activities that encourage social gathering and congestion.

The 400 Market security and staff regularly patrol the Market areas. Visitors found to be loitering or conducting leisure activities at the Market will be asked to complete their purchases and leave.

This policy is in effect to manage the capacity of The 400 Market and mitigate possible congestion and social gathering. The 400 Market appreciates customers’ commitment to physical distancing inside the Market for the wellbeing of all customers, merchants, farmers, vendors and staff. 

Enhanced Sanitization

  • Additional hand sanitizer dispensers have been placed in public access areas of the Market, such as entrances, washrooms, and more.
  • The frequency of disinfecting and cleaning heavily touched surfaces in the Market has increased and is being regularly monitored by all staff. These areas include door handles, handrails, bank machines and more.
  • Staff are emptying garbage receptacles in public areas more frequently.
  • Washrooms are being maintained more often.
  • The supply of soap and sanitizing solution in staff and public areas is being regularly monitored.

The 400 Market is food merchants are take-out only, all seating has been removed

  • All seating areas in the Market have been removed until further notice. This includes all tables, chairs and public benches, etc.

The wellbeing of our customers, merchants, farmers, vendors and staff is of the highest importance. Enhanced precautions have also been recommended for The 400 Market merchants, farmers and vendors during the COVID-19 situation.

Actions recommended for The 400 Market merchants:

  • Take orders in advance and offer to walk out orders to vehicles for customers if requested.
  • Offer online, email or telephone order options if possible.

Physical Distancing for Merchants:

  • Post signage within your rented area to inform customers about how to perform physical distancing.
  • Allow for physical distancing within your store. Ensure that the number of employees that you have working provides enough space for staff to distance themselves from each other and customers.

Entrances, Capacity & Physical Store Changes

  • Limit entrances to your store.
  • Limit the number of customers permitted inside at a time to ensure that they have enough room to physically distance themselves from each other and staff.
  • If possible, make modifications to your store that allow for physical distancing. This can include barriers or tape lines at cash registers or displays.

Recommendations for merchant staff

  • Provide staff with the most up to date information on COVID-19 and appropriate tools and equipment necessary to keep staff and customers well.
  • Continue to ensure that staff who are sick stay home. 
  • Pre-screen staff prior to their shift for every employee and every shift.

Point of Sale

  • Encourage customers to use electronic payments such as Tap and consider operating cashless.
  • Accept electronic payments for orders in advance if possible.

Take-out & Delivery Only

  • Prepared food establishments in the Market will serve food for takeout only.
  • Prepared food establishments are for pick-up only.

Sampling & Self-Serve

  • Pause all self-serve food counters and sampling.
  • Prepacked bulk foods.
  • Consider limiting open food displays.

Enhanced Sanitization

  • Increase the frequency of sanitizing heavily touched areas such as service counters and point-of-sale systems.
  • Consider pausing the use of personal reusable beverage, bulk food or take-out containers.
  • Consider pausing the use or packing of personal reusable shopping bags or baskets.         
  • Be vigilant in following handwashing protocol, including washing hands often, with soap and water, and using alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Consult Toronto Public Health information on COVID-19 for additional information and precautions.

The most current information on The 400 Market operations is available at http://www.the400market.com on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/400market,  and or Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/400market.