Street vendors outside the Red Market have gradually moved to their new stalls since last week after the area’s revamp by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM).
According to an IAM statement last week, the bureau has improved the overall business environment in the area outside the Red Market. The renovation project had been carried out in several stages since last year. The project has been completed recently and the vendors have reopened their stalls.
The Red Market is one of the city’s municipal wet markets overseen by the bureau.
According to the statement, the bureau carried out the renovation project in stages before and after the peak Chinese New Year business period in order to reduce the impact on the vendors’ business. The first phase of the project of the vendors’ stalls in Rua Leste do Mercado Almirante Lacerda was completed on January 13, while the second phase in Rua Norte do Mercado Almirante Lacerda started on February 4. During the two reconstruction periods, the vendors were temporarily relocated to a section between Rua Norte do Mercado Almirante Lacerda and Rua do Padre João Clímaco.
According to the statement, the stalls were newly designed, each with the same size and design, leaving more space for shoppers between the stalls. Each stall is now also equipped with retractable awnings. The statement said the overall aim of the project was to enhance the community and business environment in the area.
Several vendors told The Macau Post Daily yesterday they were happy with the outcome of the project as their stalls “look better than before.” However, some of them said that the retractable awnings turned out to be unsuitable for stalls selling clothes. They said that the stalls get wet when it rains as the awnings were not installed in the right position, which could not protect their goods from getting soaked.
This undated handout photo provided by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) last week shows vendors outside the Red Market move back to their new stalls for business after the area’s renovation project. Photo: IAM
Vendors use a sunshade in addition to the retractable awnings installed by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM). Photo: Camy Tam
