Pete Luckett and Pete's Frootique
By Connor DeMerchant - 22 October 2026
Pete’s Frootique at the bottom of the Saint John City Market was a staple in the building for over four decades. It was in the spring of 1982 that the stall was opened by Peter “Pete” Luckett, shortly after he arrived in Saint John.[1] A native of Nottingham, UK, Luckett immigrated to Canada in 1979. In England he had run a modest fruit and vegetable stall in Nottingham’s now closed Victoria Market. It was here that Luckett gained experience not only in selling produce but also in the lively, theatrical style of market merchandising that would later become one of his trademarks.
Luckett first encountered the Saint John City Market while looking for an opportunity to establish himself in the produce business. He opened the small fruit and vegetable stall in the Market with only a few hundred dollars to invest. According to Luckett, he spent approximately $250 on his initial supply of produce and the remainder on securing the stall. He named the business Pete’s Frootique, a playful combination of his first name and the word “boutique.”[2]
From this modest beginning, Pete’s Frootique grew into one of the Market’s most recognizable businesses. Luckett brought with him an energetic and unconventional approach to selling produce. His colourful displays, extensive knowledge of fruits and vegetables, and humorous salesmanship helped distinguish Pete’s from more conventional grocery stores. The business offered shoppers both a place to purchase produce but also an experience that reflected the lively atmosphere traditionally associated with public markets.
The business also expanded its range well beyond fruits and vegetables. Over time, Pete’s became known for specialty and imported foods, including British products and other international groceries, alongside local and regional products. Freshly squeezed juices and other specialty offerings further broadened the store’s appeal. In this way, Pete’s reflected the changing nature of the City Market itself, where traditional market stalls increasingly existed alongside businesses catering to new tastes and changing consumer habits.[3]
In 1990, after opening additional locations in Saint John, Pete Luckett sold the business in the City Market to his brother David Luckett and brother-in-law Geoff Lander. David Luckett became the sole owner in 2001.[4]
Pete Luckett’s success in Saint John provided the foundation for a much larger business. In 1992, Luckett opened a second location in Nova Scotia, followed by additional stores in Bedford, Halifax, and Wolfville. As his business expanded, Luckett became increasingly well known throughout the Maritimes, eventually becoming a familiar media personality and an advocate for quality produce and specialty foods. He eventually moved his principal business interests to Nova Scotia, but the original Saint John location continued to operate in the City Market.
The Saint John store remained in the City Market for more than forty years. After working at Pete’s for many years, Darren Lavigne became involved in ownership of the Saint John operation and ultimately took full control of the business in 2022 when he purchased the remaining shares. The following year, the business was renamed The City Market Greengrocer, bringing an end to the Pete’s Frootique name in Saint John while continuing the same tradition of selling fresh produce, specialty foods, and providing knowledgeable, personal service. Although the Pete’s Frootique name is now part of the Market’s history, the business’s legacy continues.[5]
[1] “Best Buys.” Saint John Times-Globe. 9 June 1982, Pg. 13.
Note: While this news article states that Pete’s opened in 1982 and that Luckett had only been in Saint John for six weeks (some interviews with Pete corroborate this story), Pete Luckett’s own website, other news pieces, and an interview done by James Mullinger for Edit, state that the stall in the City Market opened in 1981.
[2] https://www.luckettvineyards.com/pages/our-story
[3] “Pete’s Frootique celebrates new store.” Saint John Times Globe. 13 November 2000, Pg. 7.
[4] “Pete’s Frootique to offer settlement to creditors.” The Telegraph Journal. 24 July 2001, Pg. 15.
[5] “Fresh Name at City Market Greengrocer.” The Telegraph Journal. 15 April 2023, Pg. B1.
Photos: (above) Pete Luckett in front of Pete's Frootique, c. 1980s; (below) Pete's Frootique in the City Market, undated (PANB - P225-3836)
