No shortage of shoppers at Jelgava’s new market, but flea market disappears

Jelgava’s new market at 19b Zemgales Prospekts started trading on Saturday without an opening ceremony. At the same time, vegetable and seedling sales took place at a private lot on Ausekļa Street, opposite the old market site.

Observations on Saturday morning showed more visitors at the new market. Around 15 sellers were working in the meat pavilion, while about ten traders offered vegetables from vehicles outside, with small queues forming at several stalls. The building also houses a pharmacy and a medical laboratory.

Among the visitors was the Židkovs family, who bought cucumbers and garlic for pickling. Andulis Židkovs said he met only about a third of the sellers he used to buy from. His son, an architecture student, rated the new building five out of ten, saying the concept is good but the execution has notable flaws. Most other shoppers were positive; one man waiting for meat was pleased that flies were not bothering him. Seller Baiba from the farm “Mārcīši”, who was selling vegetables from her van, suggested more media promotion, noting that customers can easily arrive by train from nearby towns and even Riga.

Traders at the Ausekļa Street lot did not complain about a lack of customers. Seedling grower Solvita Bite said she has a loyal customer base built over decades and would not move to the new market because the fee there is too high for her need for space. Juris from Tērvete, who grows grain and feed, said he might consider checking out the new market in the future.

At the old market on the bank of the Driksa River, the so-called flea market had stopped operating over the weekend. Second-hand seller Viktors said he was not banned from the new market, but the fee – €9 indoors and €4 outside – was too expensive. The used-book seller Natālija was also absent from the new location. A vegetable grower from Vilce parish argued that the move should have been postponed until after the season, preferably in winter.

Andris Vaišļa, director of the private company “Jelgavas tirgus”, was satisfied with the opening day. He said a café would soon start operating and more sellers would arrive, adding that there are enough vacant spots. He also promised to consider ways to attract seedling sellers. Mayor Mārtiņš Daģis told a press conference on Monday that the start looks promising. A multi-storey car park is planned near the market, and passenger flows from the railway station could be significant. On the flea market, he said the municipality can offer trading spots if there is demand. The new market features free toilets, including an accessible one, which the old market lacked.