GARAPAN STREET MARKET Giving a boost to local business

This is the street where visitors, especially male tourists, seek some “good time.” Located in the heart of the Garapan tourist district, the unnamed, but popular street, has seen some transformation in the past two months — even just for once a week.

A project initiated by the private sector, the Garapan Street Market has helped brush up the image of that street where workers of the so-called hospitality industry earn their living night after night.

But on each Thursday evening, hawkers and vendors of various crafts, clothes, jewelry and other products as well as food and knick-knacks take to the street to sell their businesses amid the row of establishments flashing bright, neon lights.

Business was good during a visit to the street fair last Jan. 27 despite a downpour. A mother checking out various booths put up that evening was least bothered by the reputation acquired by that street.

“This is one way of promoting our tourism industry — that we have more to offer than what our visitors can find in this street,” she said as she gathered her two pre-teen daughters and a son to move to the next booth.

Stuffs sold in the market are not particularly striking, but they do draw the curious crowd. Live tilapias are sold by the bucket, fresh vegetables by the bundle. There are also crafts bought in Bali, Indonesia or in Papua New Guinea for sale in the street fair.

Analiza, a vendor of baby dresses, said business has been picking up since the market opened in early December. Priced between $2 to $15, her baby clothes have attracted loyal customers who come to visit the booth every Thursday.

Her customers include tourists and residents alike who visit her store located in Paradise Hotel. “It’s good exposure for our business,” said Analiza. “Every week, we have regular customers who come back to buy two to three clothes.”

Businessmen, who pay $20 to set up a booth in the market each week, say the project has provided them another venue to promote their businesses.

Wilfredo G. Ching, owner of Perfect Setting, said he has seen some customers coming to his Chalan Kanoa establishment after they have gone to their booth in the Garapan Street Market.

“They look at the jewelry we have in the booth. But since they don’t have the money at that time, they come to our store and buy there,” he said, adding their main store has also the machine and equipment to engrave jewelry or to do other modifications demanded by the customers.

“This is one promotion for our company. As a result, our market base is expanding,” Mr. Ching explained. “I’m planning to stay here in Garapan street market.”

It has been good exposure too for the one-year-old Marianas Aqua Culture Corp. which sells live tilapias fresh from its fishpond in As Lito.

General Manager Constantino M. Galang said they earn tidy profits during the four hours where they are allowed to hawk their fish in the street.

He said they plan to have a promotion in the next few weeks where they will offer free taste of their cooked tilapias to the public. “Some people probably have no idea what’s the difference between a live one from the frozen one they buy in the groceries,” said Mr. Galang.

Jun Chamorru, who sells fresh produce in the street market from his farm in Kagman, believed the project has benefited both the people and the businessmen.

“We have a lot of walk-in customers who realize that our products are cheap. So they buy from the booth and then visit our store in Kagman if they want more,” he said.

Because of its windfall to his business, he urged the Marianas Visitors Authority to expand the project, such as by utilizing other streets in Garapan for this purpose.

With the slowdown in the tourism economy, various government agencies and the private sector joined hands last year to create this so-called “little Ginza” in Garapan.

Organizers have envisioned an outdoor market that is similar to those seen around the world — clean, safe, easy to set up and the area wide enough for people to walk along and view the items on display.

Entertainment is showcased each week, from traditional to popular form of dance, music and artistic expression. The market is also alcohol-free, thus allowing the family to enjoy its sights and sounds.

A loyal customer, who comes to the fair every week since its opening, asked organizers the possibility of having the market twice a week — on Thursdays and Fridays.

“I like the food. It’s cheap. But of course, there is nothing like seeing faces here. You bump into friends you haven’t seen in a long while,” said George Galido.