INDOOR MARKET TO BE FULLY OCCUPIED FOR FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS

It has been reported that the Mercat Municipal de Xàbia – the ‘indoor market’ – will soon be fully occupied for the first time in twenty years after a push by the local government tripartite (PP-CPJ-Vox) to get the empty positions filled.

For at least two decades, there have been at last two or three empty positions in the market building and, since it took control last June, it has been a priority for the tripartite governing body to get these positions filled by local businesses. They were offered for around 500 euros a quarter.

The councillor responsible for Economic Development and Markets in Xàbia, Juanlu Cardona (PP), explained that four positions were put out to tender and that all four will be open in “a matter of days” after several offers were received and studied by the local government. He added that “we wanted all the position to be up and running, promoting local commerce and creating employment in Xàbia”.

The councillor said that the indoor market has become a landmark in the Marina Alta, attracting people from across the region to enjoy both its traditional produce and its thriving hospitality positions. And he confirmed that one of the new positions will be combining these attractions, a delicatessen which will be offering “all types of products” which can be tasted by the visitor, allowing customers to eat what they buy along with a glass of wine on one of the tables that the stall will be providing.

The other positions will be a confectioner offering sweets of all kinds, some traditional and some more modern creations, a takeaway offering roasted chickens to be bought and taken home, and a fishmonger which will be serving as an extension that will also customers to buy and taste fresh products from the sea.

Cardona also confirmed that a further position has been given to the TAPIS group so that it can sell ceramic products to raise money for its social activities. The group supports the socio-labour integration of people with social marginalization issues through therapeutic support and pre-employment training.

Finally, the councillor confirmed that the local government intends to invest some 50,000 euros in improvements to the indoor market, including the renewal of interior furniture, new planters and signs. Although the Alicante Provincial Council has been approached for funding assistance, Cardona confirmed that if such aid is not forthcoming, the investment will be made using municipal funds, since the local government is well aware that the municipal market is an engine of the local economy in the historic centre and is keen to help promote commercial activity.