As 'Benedikto turgus' closes, some vendors halt operations

The closure of Vilnius's "Benedikto turgus" market is forcing some vendors to halt their activities, with many citing difficulties in finding new trading spaces on short notice. Traders were informed of the market's shutdown three months in advance, but securing new premises during the summer proved challenging, especially for small businesses whose sole trading location was the market.

Ilona Bukaltienė, head of "Pieno namų," told Delfi that her company is suspending operations and letting go of two employees due to the market's closure. She explained that they could not find a suitable alternative over the summer and are unwilling to rent premises "just anywhere." Bukaltienė is actively searching for a new location on the same Ukmergės Street as the current market, though options there are limited. She expressed hope that some current vendors might return to "Benedikto turgus" after its reconstruction.

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The company is suspending operations and letting go of two employees due to the market's closure.

Rolandas Vestartas, owner of "Rolando daržovių," stated that the market's closure is not critical for his business as they operate other sales points. However, he believes three months is insufficient time for small businesses that relied solely on the market to find a new location. Vestartas anticipates that some regular customers will follow vendors to new shops, but not all buyers will travel to different parts of the city.

"Benedikto turgus" opened in February 2018, featuring 50 trading spots across 1,500 square meters and reportedly involved an investment of 3.7 million euros. The building on Ukmergės Street will continue to be used for commercial activities post-reconstruction, but its operational model will change to accommodate fewer, larger tenants.

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For small businesses that operated only at the market, three months is too short a time to find a new location.