Photo courtesy of the Mercado Sector Popular Oficial Facebook page.
The Mercado Sector Popular is a fantastic neighborhood market in Iztapalapa. Beyond its cool mid-century name, it’s a fixed location for some 221 merchants who used to ply the neighborhood streets. During the ancient period, the neighborhood was just off the southern coast of the tiny island of Nextipac.
Today’s neighborhood is at the crux of the La Viga Canal, and the old Churubusco River. Both old waterways carried traffic from here northward to the city center. The surrounding landscape remained mostly farmland and pastor land even well into the 20th century. While that history explains the regular street layouts, it can’t quite account for the sense of community, and the great food and culture available in markets like this one.
Among all of those regular merchants, many prepare excellent food everyday. Goods on sale include everything a neighborhood could want, but there’s plenty for visitors too.
Just a few blocks west of the Utopia Cuauhtlicalli, the Mercado Sector Popular takes up nearly a full block on the tree-lined avenue named for Alfonso Toro (1873-1952). He was an early liberal lawyer and journalist who’s best remembered for his work compiling histories of early life in Mexico. Some of his work is still used in Mexican public schools even today.
Hours: Daily 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.