Located in the heart of the city, the oldest market in Tijuana continues to provide quality to its customers almost 100 years since its founding.
The “Mercado Anáhuac” or better known by Tijuana residents as “El Popo” was founded by businessman Enrique Aldrete Palacio in the 1930s, based on the need that the population faced due to the rise of businesses such as brothels and cantinas. , so the city lacked businesses that offered basic basket products that were produced in the surrounding rancherías.
Given the needs of the 3,000 inhabitants of Tijuana at that time, the market was founded, where farmers could offer their products such as fruits, vegetables, milk, legumes, meat and spices at a very low cost. Which made the place gain popularity among Tijuana residents.
In its first years, the market was built completely rustic, made of wood and with chicken wire walls, as mentioned by the oldest merchant in the place, Don Martín Hernández Salazar, since its main objective was not the place but the products that were offered. in it.
Why is he known as El Popo?
Although its name is “Mercado Anáhuac”, colloquially it is known as “El Popo”, because according to former tenants of the place, it is known by this name due to a famous and busy establishment of that time called “Neverías Popocatépetl” that with the passing of the Over time it became very popular among the population, so people began to refer to the market in general as “El Popo.”
Although the ice cream shop has now disappeared, the place continues to be called colloquially as the first four letters of what was its name.
What could you find in the market?
As the years went by, more tenants arrived, and then, not only what is known as the basic basket was offered, but also products from beauty to entertainment venues. Among these places is “Cinelandia” which served as one of the first movie theaters in Tijuana and was located at the end of the hallway from “El Popo” where admission cost one American cent.
The place belonged to a person from Guadalajara, who upon arriving in the border city brought with him instruments to found the cinema. Among his tools were photo machines that projected images in sequence on a black blanket, which worked by turning a crank, where the duration of what was presented depended on how fast it was turned.
The oldest tenant of the place, assures that the cinema lasted 30 to 40 years offering its services, with it also its transformation, because after a time the films were presented from a projector.
The fire occurred more than 20 years ago in the “El Popo” market
The fire that occurred in the nineties left the entire place in darkness, uncertainty and ashes. Which hastened its total reconstruction, although in the process some tenants decided to completely close their access to the market, leaving the place even smaller.
Even with this, the place is currently still standing and offers an immense variety of products to its customers, ranging from traditional sweets, hard-to-get spices to conventional supers, cheese, meat and vegetables fresh daily.
Why is it not declared historical heritage?
One of the main reasons is that the market belongs to the private sector, this being an important limitation, in addition to the fact that to be declared as historical heritage before the law it only goes from pre-Hispanic to colonial and part of the 19th century era, so Tijuana is later than this.
The IMAC (Municipal Institute of Art and Culture) is qualified to propose places that could become historical heritage, although this requires the presence of the owner and founder of the place.
Source: noro
