For more than three decades, the so-called Plaza del Mariachi was a meeting point for musical groups that offered serenades and ranchera music in the heart of the city; however, the space is now abandoned and no longer serves the purpose that gave it its identity.
Since the 1990s, various mariachi groups would gather after 10:00 p.m. in one of the stalls of the candy and crafts market, where they would stay until the early hours of the morning. Couples, families, and groups of friends would come to the site to hire serenades, choosing songs according to their preferences. Over time, this tradition disappeared, and today only advertisements with the names and phone numbers of the groups remain.
During a tour of the market’s courtyards, it was observed that the stall where the musicians used to gather still displays signs for groups such as Santa Cecilia, Sol de Chiapas, Madrigal, Tepeyac, Azteca, and some norteño groups. Currently, bookings are made exclusively by phone, while the physical space is used by vendors and visitors. At night, the musicians dressed in charro suits in black, blue, or maroon are no longer seen.
One of the members of the groups recalled that the project operated steadily for years, but began to fall apart after the Covid-19 pandemic. “We started off very well, we gathered every night, but because of the pandemic, we gradually withdrew. Many stayed, and now the plaza is empty; the entire building is used as a candy and crafts market,” he said.
He added that, despite this, the groups remain active thanks to phone calls offering serenades for birthdays, anniversaries, or special celebrations, which is why they decided to display their contact information in the space they previously occupied.
According to the musicians themselves, the Plaza del Mariachi operated for more than 30 years. Currently, they remain hopeful that the space will one day be reopened and once again dedicated to traditional music. In this regard, they have called upon local authorities to promote a specific project to revitalize the area.
They noted that at one time, both domestic and international tourists enjoyed ranchera music there, and they believe that, given the growth of tourism in the colonial city, it would be beneficial to restore this cultural space and once again offer joy and tradition to the community.
Source: oem
