Central Market of Macapá

The Central Market was built during Janary Gentil Nunes' government, in 1952, designed by master Júlio, and inaugurated in 1953, ten years after the Territory's creation. At that time, the commercial area of Macapá was restricted to the Fortress Dock and Cândido Mendes Street. It is located in the only protected part of the city of Macapá, which encompasses the area around the Fortress of São José. The building was built facing Cândido Mendes Street, the main road of local commerce, in front of Theodoro Mendes square. The name of the square pays homage to the former mayor of Macapá, who was in power for 20 years (1896-1916).[3][4]

Even before the market was built, a bus stop already existed on the site, which became known as the Clip Bar, and served as a passenger shelter for the city's circular buses.[4]

Also in 1953, there was the beginning of Japanese immigration to the state of Amapá, when 29 families came directly from Japan in a ship attracted by the rubber extraction and ended up staying to develop agricultural activities, contributing to the Central Market.[6]

Outside, on Antonio Coelho de Carvalho Avenue, stands Bar Du Pedro, the oldest establishment in operation. The bar was inaugurated together with the market and belonged to a merchant named Pedro, originally from Rio Grande do Norte, who lived in Amapá in the 1950s. When he passed away in the 1990s, his son Luiz Gonzaga took over the family business.[2]

In November 2015, the renovation work began. The Municipal Department of Works (Semob) executed the first part of the services within the estimated period, guaranteeing completion by March 2016, but it was halted due to lack of federal funds, since the economic situation at the time of the country ended up preventing the capture of new resources.[7]

On May 1, 2018, the construction work was resumed. The cost is approximately R$2.5 million, with resources from the federal program Calha Norte.[8][9] The market was reopened on January 16, 2020, with 63 stalls.[10]

The restoration project includes the services of expansion, revitalization, and removal of the current roof to build a new metallic and acoustic structure in the building. After the end of the works, the place will count with a mezzanine, a stage for presentations, an administration room, a totally new electrical part, reformed boxes, a thermo acoustic roof, painting, reorganized spaces, reformed bathrooms, with a special one with accessibility for people with disabilities.[1]