Traffic and parking complaints could see the end of longtime St. Marys sweet corn stand

Graham’s Sweet Corn stand a summer staple for more than 60 years

Following complaints about traffic safety, congestion and parking issues, the Town of St. Marys has informed the owners of Graham’s Corn Stand at Queen Street West and Pelissier Street that they can no longer operate the stand at that location, where it has been for more than 60 years.

By Galen Simmons, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

St. Marys and area residents who look forward each summer to buying fresh corn from Graham’s Sweet Corn stand, a seasonal staple in the Stonetown for more than 60 years, may soon need to look elsewhere after traffic and parking complaints will force the stand to either close permanently or find another location after this season ends.

The corn stand at Queen Street West and Pelissier Street, which has been run by three successive generations of the Graham family – first by Tom Graham, then Scott Graham and finally by Brett Graham – will no longer be able to operate in its current location after the town received formal property standards complaints from area residents related to traffic safety, congestion and parking issues.

“The town’s approach is to enforce bylaws on a complaint basis, meaning we don’t proactively go look for bylaw violations, but, when we receive a formal complaint, we are required to complete an investigation,” town director of public works Jed Kelly told the Independent. “Our approach is generally to work with all parties to find an acceptable solution. In this case, upon review, staff have determined that the operation of the corn stand does not comply with the zoning bylaw and the parking restrictions listed in the towns traffic and parking bylaw.”

In working with the Grahams, Kelly said the corn stand will be permitted to operate in that location until the end of this season, on Sept. 8.

“It’s a lot to swallow, that’s for sure, especially when there’s so many people that do enjoy going to it and have been supporting it over the years,” Brett Graham said. “ … It’s kind of disappointing, I have to admit. I don’t know, really, what the future of (the stand) is, but we’re just getting through this season and then maybe we’ll reassess and figure out what we’ll want to do.

“Our farm is out on Highway 7, so I don’t know if maybe we’ll just have something out here or what we’ll do. We’ll see.”

While Brett Graham says he doesn’t yet know whether his family will push back against the town’s order to move the business, suggesting the corn stand has been there so long it should be grandfathered into the town’s zoning bylaws, he’s hopeful there is a future for stand.

From a business standpoint, he said the corn stand represents only a small portion of his farm’s sales and this order from the town won’t cause too much financial stress. The real pain, he says, is the potential loss of that community connection through which his family has gotten to know multiple generations of St. Marys families for over six decades.

“My dad who is in his 70s still picks the corn and I pick it, and we have other people that help – employees or kids. I’ve got a son that helps and he’s got some friends that help. I bet if you took the number of people who helped at the stand or the farm over the 60 years, it would probably be hundreds of people from St. Marys,” Brett Graham said.

While Graham’s corn will no longer be available at the stand at Queen and Pelissier after Sept. 8, it can still be purchased at Country Roots Fresh Market and Flowers at 1971 Perth Road 163 and from Angie Humphrey at 34253 Granton Line.

The Town of St. Marys is also open to working with the Grahams in finding a solution that would allow the corn stand to return in future seasons.

“Staff can sympathize with the situation of a seasonal business that has been operating for decades; however, we recognize that the concerns raised are valid and we are working to address them,” Kelly said. “We’re hopeful a solution can be reached well before next season that satisfies the concerns of the complainants and allows the corn stand to operate in the community.

“We believe that we are well on the way to this solution. … Looking ahead for 2026, the proprietor will be looking for a new location to move the corn stand to and the town has offered to assist in a review of a new location for suitability and compliance to applicable bylaws.”