Here stood the heart of Argentina’s cattle trade. This is the Ex Mercado de Liniers. For 121 years it was a bustling hub. It supplied beef to Buenos Aires and beyond. Today the Ex Mercado de Liniers stands silent. Its final sale occurred on May 13, 2022. The market then moved to Cañuelas.
Imagine the year 1900. The city planned to move markets away from the Riachuelo’s floods. A spot near Liniers station was chosen for the Ex Mercado de Liniers. Construction started in 1889. José Michelini opened a store there. Publio Massini sold lots rapidly. By 1890, 22 blocks were sold.
In 1890, construction began in earnest on eight hectares. Later twelve more hectares were added to the Ex Mercado de Liniers. A company formed to manage the new public markets. A school opened in 1897. The main tower neared completion.
From 1898, workers and residents bought land nearby. New transport arrived. The “La Capital” tram linked Liniers to Flores. A train station was inside the Ex Mercado de Liniers. A meat transport service ran to Rivadavia and Lacarra. From there, Anglo Argentino distributed meat.
The area around the Ex Mercado de Liniers became “Nueva Chicago”. It rivaled modern American facilities. Locals simply called it “Liniers” or “Mercados”.
The Ex Mercado de Liniers covered 30 hectares. It had walkways and corrals. It was the main market for live cattle.
In its prime, the Ex Mercado de Liniers was compared to Chicago’s market. It had 55000 square meters of concrete floors. Four hectares were roofed. There were 450 sales corrals and 2750 meters of walkways.
The busiest times were the 1930s to 1950s. Daily, 20000 to 25000 cattle arrived. Some days saw 36000. Near the end, fewer than 10000 cattle came daily to the Ex Mercado de Liniers.
Buenos Aires banned live cattle in 2006. This forced the Ex Mercado de Liniers to relocate. The move took 17 postponements to come true.
Today, the Ex Mercado de Liniers’s future is uncertain. A thematic park was planned but is not yet happening. The land transfer is disputed between the city and nation. The site is now a vehicle depot under police guard. This prevents illegal occupations.
Locals lament the Ex Mercado de Liniers’s closure. It was the heart of Mataderos. Businesses suffer from less traffic. A local kiosk owner misses the daily crowds. A saddle shop owner hopes for tourism. A grill owner fears illegal occupation.
A plan existed to develop a thematic park. It was to celebrate rural traditions and Argentine beef culture. A gastronomic center was also in the works for the Ex Mercado de Liniers.
Today, the Ex Mercado de Liniers stands as a memory. It reminds us of a time when cattle trading defined this neighborhood. The spirit of Mataderos remains. It waits for a new chapter to begin. The Ex Mercado de Liniers may yet find new life.