El Mercadito hosts holiday-themed grand opening in new south Charlotte location
El Mercadito, formerly known as the Central Flea Market in Eastland, will host a holiday themed grand opening this Saturday and Sunday.
More than 100 mostly Hispanic vendors will set up shop from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1720 Galleria Boulevard with live music, tamales, a gift wrapping station and a special appearance from Santa Claus.
Items vendors will sell include clothing, Latin food and ingredients, fruit, vegetables, toys, jewelry and household tools. Councilman Tariq Bokhari, who helped relocate the market, will hold a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. Saturday.
The market held four weekends of a “soft launch” at its new location in south Charlotte. The new 11-acre, mostly paved space off Independence Boulevard and Monroe Road, near Matthews, has free customer parking.
Why Central Flea Market moved
In fall of 2021, the city ended its lease agreement with the market operator to make way for a $175 million mixed-use development. Crosland Southeast began construction at the 80-acre site this summer after billionaire sports owner David Tepper pulled out of the project.
In February, Central Market vendors were told by city staff to leave the property immediately, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.
The market vendors formed the Central Market Association to find a new location working with city officials to find land and financial support, according to Héctor Vaca, a board member of the vendors’ Central Market Association.
Bokhari and others helped secure the new location working with vendors, who made multiple pleas to the city for help relocating.
In July, Bokhari secured free temporary space at parking lots between 6th and 9th streets and between Brevard and Caldwell streets, the Observer previously reported.
Vaca said Charlie Mulligan, former Charlotte City Council candidate and friend of Bokhari, helped broker a deal. Local developer Daniel Levine offered the land.
This story was originally published December 16, 2022 at 12:14 PM.
