I can still remember as a little boy riding with my mom in our blue Ford pickup truck to what we know today as Market Square. Back then it was known simply as El Mercado or Produce Row. And it wasn't so much a "square" as it was just a couple of large buildings. One sold produce. The other, Mexican curios. The only other nearby buildings of any consequence were Santa Rosa Hospital to the north and a tiny restaurant known as Mi Tierra to the south. Then as now, customers came from throughout the city to shop for fresh produce.
Today, visitors come from throughout the country. Market Square has grown into a tourist hot spot that includes a unique mish-mash of individually operated restaurants and shops which take up two city blocks. It's also the scene of many yearly Hispanic festivals. It's unique. In fact, the only other place I can think of that might resemble it would be Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles.
But City leaders and merchants think they still haven't tapped into Market Square's true potential. To do so, they believe, will mean bringing the Square under a single management with a clear vision of what it is now and what it will become in the future.
The Mayor and City Council have appointed a committee which, for the past few months, has been gathering suggestions from the public. Those suggestions are due to be submitted this month to the city's Economic and Community Development Committee.
As many of you already know, Market Square is a great place to take family and friends while visiting San Antonio. It's good to know the City sees an even brighter future for it.
