Why Downtown San Pedro Has Two Artisan Markets and Still No Produce Market
October 8, 2026
October 8, 2026
On Angel Coral Street, across from the Honorable Louis Sylvestre Sporting Arena, a row of artisan stalls has stood since 2016. That was the year the San Pedro Town Council, then led by Mayor Daniel Guerrero, moved the vendors there from Central Park. The move was strongly challenged at the time. On the other side of the Saca Chispas field, in the Embarcadero area off Nurse Shark Street, sits a second artisan market. It has new concrete stalls, restrooms and picnic tables, and the Belize Tourism Board opened it this year.
So downtown San Pedro has two artisan markets sharing one sports field, and it still has nowhere to buy fresh produce, meat and local crafts under one municipal roof. That missing produce market is the more important story. The latest plan for the Angel Coral Street site is designed around closing that gap, and it would change what the block across from Saca Chispas is used for.
Here is where each market stood as of the most recent reporting.
| Angel Coral Street market | Embarcadero artisan market | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Across from Saca Chispas, on Angel Coral Street | Embarcadero area, Nurse Shark Street, next to the Saca Chispas field |
| Operating since | 2016 | Ribbon-cut February 5, 2026 |
| Size | More than 20 artisans, per the town's August 2026 estimate | About ten stalls |
| Facilities | Existing vendor structures | Concrete stalls, restrooms, picnic area |
| Status | Planned for demolition and redevelopment | Open; first night market held June 18, 2026 |
The arithmetic explains most of what follows. When the BTB market was ribbon-cut in February, it was built for ten vendors. The town's August estimate put the number of artisans still working near the field at more than 20. Even with every stall going to an Angel Coral Street vendor, the new building holds about half of them.
The Embarcadero market had a slow start. In late May, the San Pedro Sun reported that the structures were finished but still empty. Some artisans and residents worried there weren't enough booths, and others doubted the location. The market was also challenged in court by nearby residents, who lost.
Things picked up on June 18, when the market held its first night market. There was live music, painting lessons for children, and stalls selling wooden handicrafts, original artwork and cultural clothing. Organizers said they planned more evening events on selected dates through the month.
The same coverage showed why consolidation was stalling. Most of the vendors at the new market didn't come from the old one. Many Angel Coral Street artisans were reluctant to move because of limited space and the new site's low visibility, and some vendors said businesses had already taken several stalls, leaving fewer for artisans. One artisan from the older market told the paper that the new location was still largely unknown to the public and that sales were stronger on Angel Coral Street, where residents and tourists walk past. The town council was expected to look at ways to raise awareness of the new site. We found no reporting after June confirming that the night markets continued or that a promotion campaign launched.
Foot traffic is the deciding factor for these vendors. On Angel Coral Street they get it without trying. At the Embarcadero, it has to be created with events.
Until this summer, the plan for the Angel Coral Street strip was simple. In May, Area Representative Andre Perez said that once the Saca Chispas arena was renovated, the strip would become a parking lot and the artisans would move to the Embarcadero building. "When the project is done, the parking lot needs to be built as well, and they know they will need to move; they cannot stay there," he said.
That plan depended on the arena renovation, which is running late. Saca Chispas was supposed to begin renovations earlier in 2026 and become a modern, dome-like venue for bigger sporting events, concerts and entertainment. Perez said the project is moving forward in collaboration with the Belize Tourism Board and that funding has been secured, but that the BTB has projects in other parts of the country. "As much as we keep asking for San Pedro, BTB has to spread its wings across other areas, but the renovations, the project will get done," he said. As of that May report, no definitive timeline had been confirmed. We found no later reporting showing that construction had started.
The field matters to more than athletes. Over the years Saca Chispas has hosted pageants, summer festivals, the Belize International Music and Food Festival and the former International Costa Maya Festival, which many residents hope will return.
On August 6, the San Pedro Town Council released a much bigger plan for the Angel Coral Street site, and Mayor Gualberto Nuñez explained it further on August 17. The council proposes clearing the existing structures and redeveloping the whole property into a multipurpose complex. It would include a formal market for fresh produce, dedicated artisan stalls, parking and rentable event space.
The produce market came from outside the town. Nuñez said representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization's Investment Center visited San Pedro and pointed out that the island has no proper municipal market for fresh produce, meats and artisan goods.
"We want a proper market for the island, a place to buy fresh produce and enjoy the area." Mayor Gualberto Nuñez, August 2026
The proposed design puts several of the town's problems on one lot:
The plan changes the vendor question. Before, Angel Coral Street artisans were being asked to move into a ten-stall building with no promise of anything else. Now the site they would leave is planned to include artisan stalls of its own. Nuñez acknowledged concerns about space for current vendors, said the council is working with partners on a "balanced solution," and noted that upgraded, more secure spaces may come with rental fees.
It is still only a plan. The council has considered several concepts but hasn't finalized architectural plans. The timeline depends on finishing the designs and getting approvals from national agencies and partners, including the BTB, and no construction start date has been set.
Parking connects the arena, both markets and the August plan. It also came up when the council tried something smaller on the streets nearby.
On September 17, the council started testing two new one-way routes in the town center. It put temporary barriers on the street beside the Hol Chan Marine Reserve office and along the waterfront near Caliente Restaurant. Barrier Reef Drive and sections of Pescador Drive have been one-way for years, and Back Street is still two-way. The council's Traffic Department manager said the first week "hasn't been too bad," though some drivers were still using their usual routes. Once monitoring ends, the council plans to put up permanent signs, and traffic wardens will help drivers adjust and may issue fines.
Drivers had mixed reactions. Some said the routes help traffic move. One driver said, "The focus needs to be on getting parking areas confirmed." The elevated parking in the August market plan is the council's clearest answer to that request so far.
Truck access is also restricted. Large trucks have been kept out of downtown since late April 2025. An April 2026 report clarified that authorized heavy trucks may enter for road works, while container trucks are still barred.
The idea of a local market isn't waiting on construction. On April 11, The Cart Stop held its second Market Day, with local vendor booths, crafts, ice cream, BBQ and music, and organizers said they hoped to make it monthly. Between that and the Embarcadero's June night market, two event-style markets ran on the island within about ten weeks. The Embarcadero's night market was built to draw people to a new site. The Cart Stop's Market Day was set up to promote local vendors.
Downtown's public spaces are getting attention too. On May 27, volunteers restored Boca del Rio Park. They removed sargassum from the shoreline, planted near the volleyball court, repainted the basketball court and bleachers, repaired palapas and tables, and replaced signs. The San Pedro Town Council, the Lions Club, Alaia Resort, visiting members of Dassault Systèmes and local artist Karissa Vasquez all took part.
If you own property near the Saca Chispas block, these projects will affect parking, foot traffic and event noise on your street. New Dawn Realty follows the town's plans closely and can explain what a new market, a renovated arena or permanent one-way routes could mean for your downtown San Pedro home or rental. Start your Belize property search with us, or ask us about the property you already own.
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