A metaphorical description: The Mercado Municipal de Tetuán is a living heart. It pumps fresh produce and vibrant community spirit through the veins of the Tetuán district. Before us stands a place of history and daily life.
The Mercado Municipal de Tetuán is more than just a marketplace. It is a hub where neighbors meet. They share stories and purchase the day’s freshest goods. This market has deep roots in the neighborhood. It offers affordable products. The Mercado Municipal de Tetuán is one of five markets in the district. It has recently undergone a complete renovation. The building and its interior have been modernized. This offers better facilities and services.
Let’s step back to a time before this building existed. Until 1947, vendors gathered on Marqués de Viana street. They sold their wares from temporary stalls. During storms, these stalls and their goods sometimes washed away. They floated all the way to Parque Sahagún at the end of the street.
The city decided to build a proper market for these merchants. Before the Mercado Municipal de Tetuán was built a bullring stood nearby. This bullring was destroyed around 1935. The area is still known as Plaza de Toros. During the market’s construction, workers discovered air raid shelters beneath the ground.
The construction company Aspe won the contract. In return, they were allowed to auction off the stalls. They also received a 50-year concession to manage the market. During construction, part of the dome collapsed. The project had to be recalculated. Aspe faced financial difficulties. Around 1950, they partnered with Padilla. Ramón Rato was one of Padilla’s owners. He was related to Rodrigo Rato who was once Vice President and Minister of Economy. With financial support from the city, the Mercado Municipal de Tetuán finally opened in 1952. Stalls were auctioned starting at three thousand pesetas. Some went for as high as ninety-nine thousand pesetas. In those days, a worker earned about seventy pesetas a week.
Originally, the Mercado Municipal de Tetuán had open stalls. There were no doors. The entrances were covered with scissor-style closures. There was only one restroom on the ground floor. It was cold in winter but better than being outside.
Around 1974, apartment buildings were built around the Plaza de Toros. The city planned to move the market vendors to new spaces under these buildings. However, the vendors refused to move. The city abandoned the plan. The space is now a public parking lot. The market’s merchants have an agreement with the parking. Their customers get one hour of free parking.
In 1985, the merchants association bought the market’s operating rights. They began a major renovation with city funding. They installed new doors and floors. They repaired the roofs. They built a restroom on the upper floor. They also created waste disposal areas. A platform was installed for waste removal. A freight elevator was added to transport goods to the upper floor. Air handling units were installed. Workshops were built on part of the upper floor. The administration office was moved there too. From 1995, further renovations were carried out. These included modernizing the office. Automatic doors were installed. The administration was computerized. Waste disposal areas were improved. Air conditioning and electrical systems were updated. New signs were installed. An elevator was installed for the public. The board room was expanded. New refrigeration units were built. A public address system was installed.
The Mercado Municipal de Tetuán was initially named Mercado de Chamartín. It was projected in 1946. It served the people of Chamartín de la Rosa and the neighborhood of Tetuán de las Victorias. The market has overcome many crises. It now boasts a renovated interior and a new facade. The new facade includes an artistic mural.
The Mercado Municipal de Tetuán stands as a testament to community resilience. It is a place where tradition meets modernity. It is a place where the heart of Tetuán beats strong.