Bazzar Del Mundo
(1st 30 years)
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Bazaar del Mundo San Diego
Bazaar del Mundo Shops
(Taylor & Juan Streets, Old Town) The original Bazaar del Mundo was located across the street from the new Bazaar del Mundo - sadly it is a fraction of the space that it used to occupy in the Old Town State Park. The old Bazaar was built in a former courtyard motel so it allowed the shops and the restaurants to be located around a plaza and a lawn. The colorful plaza was THE main location for many of Bazaar del Mundo's unique folkloric and seasonal events and it also provided many budding musicians and dancers with their first opportunity to perform before a live audience. The State's decision to put up the Bazaar's lease was a surprise to many of its patrons - many people thought that since it had been on the site for more than 30 years it would always remain. To the shock of many residents, the State took it away and awarded to another company who completely changed the mood and atmosphere from a Mexican fiesta to something called Old San Diego. San Diego's most realistic bit of Mexico disappeared from Old Town State Park and it is doubtful that it will ever come back. On a positive note, the shops of the first Bazaar del Mundo have been for the most part been replicated at the new site (kitchen/design, jewelry, Laurel Burch, Ariana, Mexican folk art, Southwest Art, books, and fabrics. Many locals have found their way to the new Shops and many more have yet to rediscover them. The Shops are a great place to browse and purchase unique items and accessories but it is not the same space because it does not have as much space. On a negative note, of the four restaurants that existed (Casa Guadalajara, Casa de Pico, Hamburguesa/Casa del Nopal, Lino's & Casa Bandini), only one remains (Guadalajara) in the new site. Casa Guadalajara is the same as it was before and features both indoor and outdoor seating but it does not have the same charm as being in the middle of the Bazaar's courtyard area at Casa de Pico. And nothing can replace the beauty of dining and drinking by the fountains in the courtyard of an 1829 two-story Spanish style hacienda. We should note that Casa de Pico has been reborn and relocated in the eastern part of San Diego at 5500 Grossmont Center Drive in La Mesa.
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