Greenmarket Square’s 2010 FIFA World Cup™ business boom comment count

• Experiences
• Sport
• News
• June 28, 2010 ∥
• By Ingrid Sinclair

A French football fan negotiates with a vendor at Greenmarket Square. Photo courtesy Ingrid Sinclair

Vendors at one of Cape Town’s oldest and most popular markets, Greenmarket Square, are very happy with the way business has been going over the past couple of weeks. The cobbled walks have been bustling more than usual and sales have gone up thanks to the influx of visitors to the Cape, here in support of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

Greenmarket Square, famous for its location and the wide variety of African curios and contemporary South African memorabilia on sale at fabulous prices, is set in the heart of the inner city and is walking distance from all the CBD attractions – Long Street, the Church Street antique market, Adderley Street and the Grand Parade (where the FIFA Fan Fest™ happens).

Visiting this market is one of the quintessential Cape Town experiences and tourists are clearly privy to this information! Ilsa and Marc Kohler from Germany heard about the market from the manager of the guesthouse that they are staying at, and spent a wonderfully warm morning perusing the artefacts and talking about the production of these with the vendors. “We have to be careful or we won’t be able to take everything back!” said Marc.

Asanda Mafa lures buyers with his drum

Asanda Mafa, who has been selling African masks and drums at the market for two years, is very pleased with the way things have been going. “We are selling so much more because of the tourists who are here,” he smiled while tapping away at a drum; a strategy, he says, that works very well to lure potential buyers to his stall.

You’ll find more than wooden sculptures and beadwork at Greenmarket Square. This is a great place to pick up second-hand CDs and books at basement prices, funky T-shirts and tie-dyed dresses, and original artwork of every conceivable school.

When you’re done with your shopping, the myriad surrounding cafés and restaurants are ideal spots for resting those feet. It’s one of the trendiest spots in town and a place that’ll put you in the heart of the action.