If everything had gone to plan, dozens of Tapatios would have headed for the new municipal Corona Market in downtown Guadalajara on September 16 for a hearty plate of menudo or atorta ahogado to cure the cruda (hangover) from the patriotic festivities the night before.
But as many Tapatios had predicted, work on the new market on Avenida Hidalgo had not finished and vendors were unable to move into their new home on September 15 as promised. Mayor Ramiro Hernandez is now so anxious to cut the ribbon on the facility before he leaves office on October 1 that he has inked a September 28 inauguration into his diary.
Hernandez announced this week that the final number of puestos (booths) inside the market will be 589. That is 79 more than originally planned. Almost 400 vendors who lost their source of income after a fire destroyed the old market 18 months ago have so far renewed their concessions with Guadalajara city hall.
Hernandez said vendors will be able to move into the market at the end of the month but stressed the facility will not be finished completely. The job of fitting out the entire top floor, slated for municipal offices, is still pending. And customers should expect workers to still be busy finishing many other smaller details.