Mercado 25 de Julio / Tianguis de San Felipe de Jesús

Photos courtesy of the Mercado de herramientas 25 de julio Facebook page. 

The Mercado 25 de Julio, by virtue of its location, is very often a first stop on a trip into the giant Sunday Tianguis de San Felipe de Jesús. About half of the market is dedicated to the sale of hardware, tools, and even light industrial equipment. That particular flavor eeks out into the surrounding streets on Sundays when you are as apt to find sneakers next to boiler parts or hydraulic car lifts. And while few international visitors will want to pick up gas turbines, the rest of the tianguis provides some of the best street shopping anywhere in Mexico City.

The market, and the surrounding neighborhood of the same name, commemorate the feast of Santiago Apostol. The parish church is the main Roman Catholic parish in the same neighborhood. But a glance at the map shows the tiny barrio surrounded on three sides by the much larger San Felipe de Jesús. Both this market and that in San Felipe hold about 250 vendors each. Outside you’ll find many more.

Traditionally, these neighborhoods were sandwiched between two great industrial and manufacturing areas. Beginning in the 20th century, these grew along the entire southeast side of the old Villa de Guadalupe. Today that’s the Basilica. They began at the base of the Calzada de los Misterios and extended northeast to the border with Ecatepec where many factories and warehouses remain even to this day.

The resulting street market is often referred to as the largest in Latin America. It may well be. But as it is nearly entirely on the residential streets of the neighborhood, the contours are never the same, and never completely known. It’s too much for a single Sunday. But for the dedicated, there are more than the pacas, i.e.; bails of used clothing, although those are here too.

For sportswear, sneakers, and related accessories, of course, tremendous bargains are to be had. But the giant tianguis is famous for catering to just about every want, need, and desire.

Hours: Market hours are Monday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Sundays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Sunday tianguis begins setting up and opening early. By mid-afternoon, some vendors will begin tearing back down. Some parts of the street market will still be open even as the sun sets.