The San Miguelito Market has been completely rebuilt, marking a historic transformation in public markets that directly benefits both vendors and their families. Once insalubrious and unsafe, the market now features modern infrastructure, occupational safety measures, advanced fire protection, and integrated spaces for early childhood care.
Spanning 45,000 square meters, the market includes more than 1,000 stores across four levels and a terrace. For the first time, children of vendors can access dedicated facilities such as Early Childhood Care Centers (CAPI) and breastfeeding rooms, ensuring a safe, educational, and dignified environment while their parents work.
The initiative not only modernizes infrastructure but also allows vendors to transition from informal to formal work, securing contracts and creating opportunities that can be passed down to future generations. President Bukele emphasized that this is part of a nationwide effort to rebuild all markets from the ground up, including those in Tapalhuaca, El Triunfo, Chalchuapa, Lourdes, La Palma, and beyond, prioritizing safety, dignity, and comprehensive family support.
“Markets are no longer seen as problems, but as opportunities for families to earn decent incomes, for cities to be cleaner and safer, and for commerce to grow fairly,” President Bukele added.
The San Miguelito Market stands as a model of how targeted public investment can transform historic spaces, empower vendors, and provide children with safe and nurturing environments for their early development.