Skip to content

Pop-up garden centres set to return to empty lots in Coquitlam, Port Moody this month

On Monday, Coquitlam city council will consider a temporary use permit for Urban Roots to set up again near Coquitlam Centre mall.

A company that had two pop-up shops for Tri-City gardeners last year is set to return this month.

Urban Roots plans to open its markets in the northeastern plaza of Coquitlam Centre mall — if city council approves a temporary use permit (TUP) on Monday (March 7) — as well as at the corner of Clarke Road and Kyle Street in Port Moody. 

Port Moody city council granted a building permit to CityState Consulting Group last Friday (Feb. 25) for Urban Roots’ spring re-launch.

In total, Urban Roots is proposing 10 sites this year across the Lower Mainland — up three from 2021: 

  • 1150 The High St., Coquitlam
  • 2421 Clarke Rd., Port Moody
  • 502 East 3rd St., North Vancouver 
  • 1250 Guildford, Surrey (Guildford Town Centre)
  • 5300 No. 3 Rd., Richmond (Lansdowne Mall)
  • 2465 West 41st Ave., Vancouver
  • 2966 West 4th Ave., Vancouver (Kitsilano) 
  • 6495 Main St., Vancouver
  • 2901 East Hastings St., Vancouver (PNE)
  • 1755 Cottrell St., Vancouver 

Carola Thompson, senior planner for CityState Consulting, told the Tri-City News today (March 3) Urban Roots donated more than $100,000 worth of vegetable plants last year, including to 126 schools.

And this year’s goal is to give more, reaching students in some 200 schools across the Lower Mainland, as well as helping with the horticultural program at Kwantlen University.

Urban Roots is run by Canadian Valley Growers, a B.C-based wholesaler that supplies plants to Art Knapp, Home Depot and Costco, among others retailers.

Thompson said Urban Roots is responsive to the community.

Last year, a neighbour’s complaint made before the opening of the City Centre outlet about potential generator noise resulted in the company shifting to solar panels on site.

If the TUP is approved by Coquitlam city council on Monday, the Urban Roots Garden Market will be open daily from March to September.