Marketplaces to Public Markets

Market History in the World

As long as there is produce, there is trade and as long as trade exists and so does markets. Markets were found in ancient Babylonia, Assyria, Phoenecia, Greece, Egypt and Arabian Peninsula. Remains of salt, dyes, cloth, metals, pots, ceramics, statues and other products were found to tell us that they were traded in these bazaars with probably a lot of perishable produce like meat, vegetables or fruits. With early bronze age the markets were spread across the Mediterranean and Aegean (Scales and Modes of Interaction Between Prehistoric Aegean Societies and their Neighbours).

In the middle-east the traces of the first bazaar are from 3000 BCE, typically occupied a few alleys along the length of the city stretching from one gate to the opposite (Persian Bazaar and Its Impact on Evolution of Historic Urban Cores – the Case of Isfahan).

Greeks were organized. They organized the trade into categories and located different trades to different zones. Called stoa, they were placed close to the agora. They were places of trade but also a public promenade. In the marketplace officials were employed by the government to oversee weights, measures and coinage (The Economy of Ancient Greece).

Türkey and Bazaars

Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is often cited as the world’s oldest continuously operating, purpose-built, covered market. It has 61 covered streets and over 4000 shops on a total area of 30,700m2.

Its construction started 2 years after Mehmet, the Conqueror conquered Istanbul in 1453. The aim was to bring economic prosperity to Constantinople in Ottoman rule. Its location was very close to Sultan Mehmed II’s palace overseeing the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus

Most Popular Marketplaces in Turkey

The Grand Bazaar – Istanbul

Kemeraltı Market – Izmir

Spice Market – Istanbul

Coppersmiths Market – Gaziantep

Mardin Market – Mardin

Beşiktaş Market – Istanbul

Safranbolu Market – Karabük

Uluçarşı – Bursa

Uzunçarşı – Antalya

Bedesten Kapalıçarşı – Trabzon

Most of the popular marketplaces in Turkey are a reflection from the medieval bazaars and are designed to sell the products from the old trade roots; spices, copperware, cloths, pots, gold, silverware and many more. The marketplace take of Turkey is mainly occurs as the bazaar type.

The other popular type of a marketplace in Turkey is the regional street markets. They are constructed from scratch once a week in designated areas and are full of fresh food produce stalls. Each region has its day of the bazaar and only on that day you can find the marketplace. Mostly sells fresh produce and some stalls you can find, clothes, kitchen appliances, plastic or glass ware, cheese, fish, olives, eggs… This kind of marketplace hardly ever has one or two food stalls that sells street food.

Types of Marketplaces

There are many types of marketplaces in the world other than the bazaar.

• Bazaar: typically, a covered market in the Middle East
• Car boot sale: a type of market where people come together to trade household and garden goods; very popular in the United Kingdom
• Dry market: a market selling durable goods such as fabric and electronics as distinguished from “wet markets”
• E-commerce: an online marketplace for consumer products which can be sold anywhere in the world
• Indoor market of any sort
• Marketplace: an open space where a market is or was formerly held in a town
• Market square in Europe: open area usually in town centre with stalls selling goods in a public square
• Public market in the United States: an indoor, fixed market in a building and selling a variety of goods
• Street market: a public street with stalls along one or more sides of the street
• Floating market: where goods are sold from boats, chiefly found in Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam
• Night market: popular in many countries in Asia, opening at night and featuring much street food and a more leisurely shopping experience. In Indonesia and Malaysia, they are known as pasar malam
• Wet market (also known as a public market): a market selling fresh meat, fish, produce, and other perishable goods as distinguished from “dry markets”

What is a Public Market?

According to Boston Public Market Manager Tiffani Emig, public markets are all unique in several ways but there are some must have properties of a public market (What is a Public Market?).

1 A public market primarily sells food. Fresh produce, bakeries, butchers, spices, coffee, fish, dairy products from local producers are mostly found in public markets. Most markets also have stalls that sell flowers, craft or many other non-food related products.

2 A public market is open year around. Public markets have their own permanent locations, open daily and year around, unlike farmer markets which are mostly pop-up and are available only someday of the week, even in some cases monthly or seasonally.

3 A public market is made up of small independent businesses, and each shop or stall is owner operated. Unlike a supermarket each product is sold by individual owners and brands to create a homogenic diversity.

4 A public market fulfils a public purpose beyond retail food sales. Public markets are civic structures where the public is given an experience. It is not just about the products that are sold but it is also a place where customers observe processes of food, learn from workshops, taste new flavors or get to know the regional recipes and produces.

Why Public Markets

Due to rapidly globalizing world markets the folks are flocking to rebuild regional economies and human relations by creating these public markets.

The one reason, that comes up in most surveys, that makes people to come to public markets is the experience. An unexpected sensory flavor, seeing people, unique products or freshness all lure people to these spaces.

A successful public market must have 10 qualities that should work well together (10 Qualities of Successful Public Markets).

1 Vendors. When choosing vendors, the brands should have most importantly the quality feel to be a part of the market community. Clean, Attractive, innovative and competitive vendors are right for the job.

2 Location. Visibility, accessibility and memorability are the main characteristics of a public space location. Also, in order to be successful, the location should be in a region where it welcomes everyone as target audience.

3 The Right Mix is another top priority when it comes to creating the content for the public market. A range of vendors should have competition for quality, balance and the right amount of turnover.

4 Mission. Like any successful brand the public market should have a mission and a good story behind it. It should be connected to local culture and be involved in the community.

With emphasis on major four qualities, the spaces need 5 a good space design sense, 6 good connections with partners and community, 7 good economics, 8 good promotion, 9 right valuation and finally 10 a very good management.

Public Markets of the World

Public markets are rapidly spreading all over the world here are some of the best examples of public markets to look for when you are in the neighborhood.

Mercato Centrale – Florence / Italy

Toyosu Fish Market – Tokyo / Japan

La Boqueria – Barcelona / Spain

Torvehallerne Market – Copenhagen / Denmark

Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market – San Francisco / United States

Borough Market – London / England

Or Tor Market – Bangkok / Thailand

Baguio City Public Market – Baguio / Philippines

Grand Bazaar – Istanbul / Turkey

Pike Place Market – Seattle / United States

Shilin Night Market – Taipei / Taiwan

St.Lawrance Market – Toronto / Canada

Camden Lock Market – London / England

Mercado de San Miguel – Madrid / Spain

Here is a map of Public Markets of the World

Opportunities and Adaptation of Global Public Markets to Turkey

Turkey is not far away from the “Marketplace” concept; in fact, it is one of the first places that has one of the most important marketplaces in the world. The Grand Bazaar has all kinds of stores inside, I mean ALL!

Also, a culture that is full of regional bazaars bringing fresh produce to the neighborhood, people are ready to go out and find stalls that sell fairly priced fresh produce.

Public Markets are a great way to go for a city like Istanbul and many other cities of Turkey. A closed space with, 15-20 stalls selling, fresh fish from the Marmara Sea, fresh vegetables and fruit from the surrounding villages, handmade local garments or clothes, flowers, bakeries, Turkish coffee houses are all suitable to be in an Istanbul Public Market. It would be a space to be visited by the locals as well as some of the 13.5ml tourists that come every year (KTB – 2018).

So look for public markets as the new trend in Istanbul in the years ahead of us!