NORTH LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — After weeks of silence and uncertainty, Broadacres marketplace re-opened their doors to customers Friday.
Vendors filled stalls, music echoed through the isles and customers came ready to support a place that so many say feels like home
“I feel like it’s kind of coming back to its feeling normal again and I feel like now it gives us like some stability to be able to keep going,” said operations manager at the Coco Loco stand, Gabby Ramirez.
Broadacres Marketplace is one of the largest private employers in North Las Vegas, supporting over 1,000 people. Many are immigrant families who depend on this place to make a living.
“It was pretty tough cause like this is like one of our main sources like for us to get our money and stuff to afford rent,” said vendor Jean Rodriguez.
The reopening comes after a sudden shutdown on June 21, due to fears tied to national immigration enforcement. During that time, Broadacres management told FOX5 they created vendor alert system in case law enforcement is seen in or around the market.
“They did tell us that they are only allowed to be on the public property,” Ramirez said. “They’re not allowed to be like in our sheds or in the back of our restaurants and stuff like that.”
The fear that caused the closure in the first place hasn’t completely gone away. Vendors said while they are fearful to be targeted by federal agents, they have to keep pushing forward to make a living.
“We can’t always live in fear, this is our home and where we make our money and it’s something that we need to like, keep going and doing,” Ramirez said.
And as vendors opened their booths, longtime customers returned to shop and to show their support.
“I missed it so much and I’ve been coming here 44 years in this town,” said customer Kevin McFate. “I’ve been coming here since it opened and I said I got here and just wonderful, wonderful place, good product, good people.”
“We’re glad to be back out here,” said customer Justo Castillo. “You know, we [were] very disappointed that, you know, it’s closed down, so we’re very happy that we all can come out here and, you know, go shopping and do a little stuff like that.”
For vendors, seeing customers back at the swap meet brings relief, and for a lot of them the reopening marked the beginning of a new chapter and a chance to rebuild.
“I used to call this place Disneyland without the rides, but now they have rides,” said vendor Daniel McCabe. “So, it’s Disneyland, you could find anything from new, antiques, old jewelry, it’s all here.”
Broadacres marketplace will reopen Saturday and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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