Street market

Moore Street market in Dublin, Ireland

A street market in Beijing.

A street market is an outdoor market such as traditionally held in a market square or in a market town, and often held only on particular days of the week. Very similar markets, or bazaars, can also be found in large enclosed spaces, instead of on a street.

Set-up

Some traders travel the length and breadth of a country to attend markets, often travelling during the night or early hours, turning market squares and streets in to vibrant colourful places. At many markets (gaffs) especially the smaller sites each trader arrives (pulls on) to the market at an allotted time and the build up is like clockwork. As one trader has set up and is ready to park another pulls on to build his stall up—all will be ready to open when the public arrive.

By country

Hispanic countries

El Rastro of Madrid (Spain).

A mercadillo or mercat al carrer, is a market that is generally set up outdoors on several specific days of the week. Other alternative names are: street market, open-air market, square market and even charity market, in cases where the sale is made for charity reasons. According to the La Caixa yearbook, in 2015 there were 17,999 street markets in Spain.

Market fair of crafts, customs, traditions and artisanal products

This type of " street vendor » has very different forms given the great variability of these street markets (and the products they offer) around the world. Street markets are usually located in public places or places provided by the local council, such as squares, avenues, parking lots, etc.

The stalls usually consist of easy-to-assemble stands, which are made up of removable metal structures on which a board is placed as a counter. However, the items can also be placed on folding tables or directly on the ground on boxes, baskets or other containers. The products that are put up for sale are very varied: food products, clothing, household products, plants, beads, etc. Each seller must request a sales license from the town hall or delegation or municipality, pay the corresponding fee and is assigned a specific place within the premises.

Street markets in Spain enjoy great popular acceptance due to their reputation for bargains or haggling, as they sell products at lower prices than in traditional shops. The reasons are varied:

• The fees that sellers pay to set up shop are lower than traditional businesses.
• They do not have to deal with fixed expenses such as electricity, water, rent of premises, although they pay for a vehicle, usually a van, and their expenses such as diesel, etc. Nowadays, almost all town halls also oblige them to take out civil liability insurance, pay public road occupancy and industrial waste taxes, be registered with the Treasury and Social Security census and be up to date with payments.
• They are usually sole proprietorships or family businesses.
• The items put up for sale usually consist of leftovers, defective products or out-of-season products, antiques, and manufacturing surpluses that have been purchased directly from manufacturers. They also sell items like any established business with a lower profit margin to attract the largest possible audience.

Gallery

• Exemples of street market
• 
  Els Invasors, a Albacete ( Espanya )
• 
  Mercat o tianguis a San Cristóbal Ecatepec (Mèxic)
• 
  Mercat medieval a Alcalá de Henares
• 
  Mercat de la cirera a Covarrubias .
• 
  Rastre benèfic a Mallorca (Espanya).
• 
  Mercat solidari a Hoyo de Manzanares (Espanya)
• 
  Mercat de fruites i verdures a Göztepe ( Kadıköy, Istanbul )
• 
  Fira itinerant al barri d'Almagro, Buenos Aires .

United Kingdom

Britain's market traders

Souq in Amman, Jordan

As the first real form of retailing, not a great deal has actually changed. Many people have tried their hand at Market trading and some have made vast fortunes, Marks and Spencers, Tesco, New Look all started from a barrow or stall. The life is tough and the hours can be very long but there are certain families who have been involved with the industry,for many generations and usually linked to the same trade or line. Halkets is one of these, based around Stoke-on-Trent,are famous for selling "pots" (china and pottery) at markets and fairs up and down the country. Benjamin is also another old family name connected with the markets and fairs,these seem to still operate around the London and Oxford areas and are involved with the selling of small leather goods,handbags and lugggage.

Part of the Franklin Tailgate Market, a farmer's market in Franklin, North Carolina

Licensing

Traders can be licensed to trade on a single pitch but not at a national level or when trading on private land. This has led to declining confidence in the reputation of markets. A voluntary scheme has been set up by The Market People, backed by the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA) to address this. It provides consumers with traceability of traders and goods as well as the ability to rate and contact the traders. A MarketPASS is issued to an operator or Trader once they have provided proof of identity, insurance and, where required, a hygiene certificate.

England's chartered markets and fairs

Many of the older historic markets carry a "charter" which gives that particular market certain rights and protection. For example, another market can't be held on the same day within a certain distance of a "chartered market". These were awarded by kings to markets and fairs all over England, and to this day are guarded by market traders and showmen.

London

See: markets in London

Some examples of street markets include Berwick Street Market, Broadway Market, Camden Market, East Street Market, Petticoat Lane and Portobello Road Market. The most popular for food is Borough Market which sell most fresh produce as well as having a bakery.

Greece

Main article: Laiki agora

Street markets in Greece are called laikes agores (λαϊκές αγορές) in plural, or λαϊκή αγορά (laiki agora) in singular, meaning "people's market". They are very common all over Greece, including the capital, Athens, and its suburbs. Regular (weekly) morning markets sell mostly fresh produce from farming cooperatives - fruit, vegetables, fish and flowers/plants. Some household items and prepared foods are often available.

Annual street markets (panigyri(a)) occur around churches on the day of their patron saint. These take place in the evenings and have a more festive character, often involving attractions and food stalls. The goods sold range from clothing and accessories to household items, furniture, toys and trinkets. Athens also has several bazaars/enclosed markets.

Hong Kong

A street market in Hong Kong on Boxing Day 2006

See: markets in Hong Kong

Street markets in Hong Kong are held all the days except few traditional Chinese holidays like Chinese New Year. Stalls opened at two sides of a street were required to have licenses issued by the Hong Kong Government. In Hong Kong there are street markets of various kinds such as fresh foods, clothing, cooked foods, flowers, and even electronics. The earliest form of markets is known as Gaa si. Some of them are gradually being replaced by shopping centres, markets in municipal service buildings, and supermarkets, while some became tourist attractions like Tung Choi Street and Apliu Street.

North American countries

Farmers' markets are usually held outdoors, in public spaces, where local farmers can sell produce to the public. They are increasing in the United States and Canada.

Turkey

Street markets are called shortly pazar in Turkish and usually named after the name of the day since they are only installed at around 05:00 on that specific day and ended on same day around 18:00, in every week. Every district in Turkey has its own open market where people can choose and buy from a very wide range of products, from fresh fruits and vegetables to clothing, from traditional white cheese (which some people may consider feta-like) to household items. In Istanbul area Wednesday Pazar of Fatih district, Tuesday Pazar of Kadıköy and Friday Pazar of Ortaköy are the most famous and crowded open markets of the city.

Turkey has also some very active closed or half-open markets like Kapalıçarşı or Spice Bazaar.

See also

• Arcade
• Bazaar
• Braderie: a type of grand yearly street fair and market, held mostly in the summer in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Northern France.
• Market
• Night market
• Night markets in Taiwan
• Pasar malam: a street market in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore that opens in the evening, usually in residential neighbourhoods.
• Souk: an open-air marketplace or commercial quarter in Middle Eastern and North African cities.
• Tianguis: open air market that is traditionally held on certain market days in Mexico and Central America.
• Wet market: sells fresh meat, fish and produce. See also dry goods.

References

Local Market Directory