A section of the roof at El Parián, the 146-year-old food court in the heart of Tlaquepaque, collapsed on Tuesday, September 3.
There were no casualties in the dramatic incident, which was captured by several passersby on their phones and widely shared on social media.
Two sections of the exterior bóveda, covering approximately 36 square meters of the establishment’s covered portal area, collapsed around 2:30 p.m., landing on dining tables that were, fortunately, unoccupied at the time. The area was quickly evacuated and cordoned off. While the exact cause of the collapse is still unknown, there is speculation that accumulated rainwater on the structure’s roof may have contributed to the incident.
El Parián’s union president, Manuel Talamantes Michel, told reporters that a crack in a column was noticed in time, allowing diners to be evacuated before the collapse.
Talquepaque municipal authorities have requested assistance from the Metropolitan College of Civil Engineers to assess the structural condition and safety of the entire building. As of press time, El Parián had not yet reopened to the public, and is unlikely to do so until the experts have given the all clear.
Built in 1878, this expansive dining area features an open-air plaza with more than 18 restaurants and bars. In addition to serving a variety of regional dishes, El Parián hosts mariachi music and folkloric ballet performances at its central bandstand.
This historic and culturally significant venue occupies a prominent part of Tlaquepaque’s downtown and is popular with both tourists and locals alike.