PANTRY SALES AT MCGRATH’S MEAT STALL

By Connor DeMerchant - 13 August 2026

Operated by brothers William J. B. McGrath (1900-1987) and Peter C. McGrath (1904-1981), McGrath’s Meat Stall was one of many meat stalls which have conducted business in the City Market over the last century and a half. Uniquely, however, during the 1950s McGrath’s Stall also served as the venue for numerous “Pantry Sales.” A popular way to raise funds for charitable causes, pantry sales were conducted by volunteers who sold homemade dry goods, canned vegetables, preserves, baked treats, and handcrafted pantry items.

While these pantry sales occurred regularly at public buildings across the city, including churches, hospitals, and hotels (the Admiral Beatty was a regular host), sales held at McGrath’s Meat Stall were particularly frequent, and obviously successful given the sheer number which were held here. 

Ads in Saint John newspapers reveal a wide array of groups and organizations holding pantry sales at McGrath’s during the 1950s. For example, in 1954 the Saint John Figure Skating Club; the Vincentian Welfare Club; St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church; Beta Sigma Phi; and the Women’s Auxiliary R.C.A.F Association all utilized McGrath’s during the course of the year. 

In 1955, the stall hosted pantry sales organized by the Mother’s Club of the Church of St. John and St. Stephen; St. Paul’s Junior Auxiliary; Fundy Chapter of the O.E.S; the City Liberal Women’s Association; and St. James Parish Guild, among others. 

The year 1956 saw Saint John the Baptist Ladies’ Society; The Junior A.Y. P. A. of St. Paul’s Valley Church; United Commercial Travellers Ladies’ Club; Dr. William McIntosh Chapter of the I.O.D.E; and the Kum Join Us Club of Coburg Street Christian Church raise funds.  

Others who held sales at McGrath’s in the latter part of the decade and into the early 1960s included the Dr. W. F. Roberts Chapter I.O.D.E; Senior C.G.I.T Centenary Queen Square Church; Saint John the Baptist Parish Council, Catholic Women’s League; and the Kinette Club of Saint John.

The McGrath’s sold their business in 1967, bringing an end to pantry sales in their City Market stall.