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Why Latino Vendor Markets Matter

Abstract Problem, research strategy, and findings Markets have been central to civilization, fostering trade and social life. Although markets take a variety of forms and sizes, existing planning research does not engage with flea markets and swap meets. In this study we explore four Latino vendor markets (LVMs), classified as flea markets or swap meets, in two predominantly Latino states, California and Texas. We analyze Latino vendor markets through the lens of place attachment from three perspectives: basic economic activity, social and human interactions, and their physical setting. We draw our results from 198 surveys with vendors and customers, interviews with key informants, and detailed on-site observations. We find that LVMs are vibrant and lively places where attachment and feelings of belonging manifest; we identify them as one-stop shops and places of purposeful interactions. Our findings are limited by the scope of the geographic focus of the research. Takeaway for practice Forward thinking in planning pushes away from a legacy of exclusionary practices and into an inclusive approach. Our study gives planners a better understanding of how LVMs work and their capacity to create place attachment in the process of providing for basic needs. Planners should embrace the presence of a critical mass of people as an opportunity to support community development at the markets and reach out to and support hard-to-reach populations.