String Bean Alley at Queen Vic

Queen Victoria Market is the grand dame of open air markets and everyone has their favourite fruiterer or poultry vendor. Everyone also knows where the hot doughnuts and the borek are to be found.

In recent years, the organic section and the pan pipers have also made the “word association leap” into Queen Vic Market consciousness.

Fifty years ago, ‘M Shed’ at Queen Victoria Market was associated with string beans. Now craftily renamed String Bean Alley, the area now populated by shipping containers is aiming to reclaim a piece of Queen Victoria Market history, fame and top spot in that word association mind game.

The stall holders are all Melbourne locals, and will include fashion designers creating ethical clothing and accessories by hand, craftspeople making bespoke wooden furniture, clocks made from recycled street signs and lighting, even accessory designers working with 100% recyclable and unwanted materials.

Padre Coffee will also join String Bean Alley, roasting coffee and creating their own blends.

String Bean Alley even has its own food speciality, waffles from every corner of the world.

Graffiti aritsts AWOL CREW and ADNATE have just completed a giant mural at the entrance to M Shed to set the tone for the new look String Bean Alley, while the first wave of artists and specialist traders have set up their shipping container stalls.

So if you have time any given weekend, or during the Night Market, why not give the old “M” Shed a go? You may soon find that the words “String Bean Alley” will have crept into your consciousness the next time you ask someone to catch up with you at the markets.