On Road to La Isla, 25 Street Vendors Forced Out

The street vendors that had taken spots along the road leading to Cabo Norte and the La Isla shopping mall have been uprooted.

City enforcement teams cleared the illegal street vendors in northern Mérida on Saturday, marking the latest effort to regulate commercial activity in public spaces.

The operation took place on Calle 24 in the Santa Gertrudis Copó neighborhood. Approximately 25 stalls were found offering various products without permits, according to officials from the General Coordination of Good Government.

Vendors had set up plastic tables and fabric awnings to display their goods. Many sold food, canopies and various items using makeshift structures. The unauthorized businesses created problems for residents and passersby who complained about blocked sidewalks, trash buildup and traffic safety concerns.

The enforcement action involved 15 members from the General Coordination of Good Government, with support from the Yucatán State Public Security Secretariat. The inter-agency coordination ensured the operation proceeded safely and within regulatory guidelines.

Growing Enforcement Efforts

Administrative sanctions were applied during the day, and in some cases, merchandise was seized, which can be recovered by its owners once the corresponding fines have been paid.

The Saturday operation followed similar enforcement just days earlier when mobile food units were removed from the same location near the upscale La Isla mall.

Santa Gertrudis Copó sits about 8 kilometers (5 miles) from downtown Mérida. The neighborhood developed around a former henequen hacienda that operated until the 1930s, when land reforms converted it into a communal ejido.

La Isla Mérida opened in 2018 as the largest shopping complex in Mexico’s southeast, featuring 180 stores, restaurants and an artificial lake. The 2.25 billion peso development by Mexico City-based Grupo Gicsa has transformed the northern reaches of the city.

Part of Broader Strategy

The vendor removal represents part of a wider municipal strategy to maintain order in public spaces. Mayor Cecilia Patrón Laviada has emphasized her administration’s commitment to what officials call “an orderly and inclusive city model.”

Last month, the city council launched similar efforts to remove street vendors from the Aro roundabout in the Las Américas area following resident complaints about pollution, noise and encroachment on public streets.

Municipal authorities say they plan relocation, dialogue and training programs to help vendors transition to legal commercial activities. The goal involves supporting people who depend on street sales while protecting public space usage.

The enforcement reflects ongoing tensions over street vendor regulation across Yucatán. State laws prohibit selling goods on city streets, though thousands of vendors operate throughout the region.

Officials emphasize the need to balance economic opportunities for informal workers with public safety and urban planning requirements. The seized merchandise can be reclaimed once vendors pay corresponding fines.

Local residents interviewed near the shopping plaza said the vendor stalls had created unpleasant conditions including garbage accumulation and restricted pedestrian access. Many viewed the enforcement as necessary for maintaining neighborhood quality of life.

The operation demonstrates Mérida’s urban development challenges as the city experiences rapid growth, particularly in the north, where new shopping centers, residential developments and commercial districts continue expanding.

Street vendor oversight remains a sensitive issue throughout Mexico, where informal commerce provides income for millions of families amid limited formal employment opportunities.