The market was originally an informal gathering place for pushcart vendors and other merchants but at some point, the city took over and rented stalls to vendors. As of May 2008, only four vendors were operating out of the last building.
An article written in 2006 about the market states that “vendors, residents, community leaders and politicians agree that renovating what is currently the least patronized municipal market in the city would revitalize East Harlem. Community leaders are desperate to create an economic and cultural draw in a community district that, according to a Columbia University study, experiences an 81 percent loss of potential spending dollars to other neighborhoods each year.”
The City is currently trying to revive La Marqueta. The video below explains some of the challenges members of the community have in finding fresh fruits and vegetables as well as efforts by local organizations to work with the city in reviving La Marqueta.
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La Marqueta or “Under the Bridge” as it was known as back in the day will never return to it original concept because the area has changed. There is no longer the immigrant influx into the area like it use to be and were looking for cheap prices for food from their country and the people from the south looking for southern foods. The days of viable “La Marqueta” have gone, never to return.