Bolhão Market surpasses 5.5 million visitors in the first year after reopening
Stall, shop, and restaurant occupancy rates are nearly 100%.
Over 5.5 million national and foreign visitors toured the Bolhão Market in the first year after its reopening on September 15, 2022, with a daily average of 20,000 visitors. 365 days later, on its first anniversary, the outcome is overwhelmingly positive, with a total of 7 national and international awards won for the market's restoration and modernization work.
Regarding attendance, Saturday is the day with the most people in the market, registering an average of 25,000 visitors, higher than the daily weekday average of 19,000 visitors. August was the best month in terms of attendance, with August 14th being the day with the most visitors inside the market: 31,000 (excluding the reopening day, which registered 35,000 in 2022).
As for the occupancy rate, 98% of the spaces are occupied, meaning, of the 127 available spaces, only two are free. All the stalls are assigned, with 76 of the existing 79 in operation. Currently, seven out of the available ten restaurants are open, all of which have already been fully assigned. Of the 38 shops, 36 are assigned, with 26 currently open.
Bolhão, besides being a place for selling products and dining, has become a place for enjoyment and leisure, with 150 events taking place in the first year after reopening. The initiatives target different audiences of various ages and are structured around four main themes: agri-food (Chef à la Bolhão, showcookings, and workshops, Coimbra Region's Sweets and Wines Market, Easter Fair); brand activations (photoshoot sessions for various brands, e.g., Luis Onofre, TEDx Porto presentation, British Embassy activation); special programs (Bolhão Health Days, Start Your Morning, NABo Project, Healthier Bolhão); Arts and Entertainment (‘Preserved Images’ exhibition, ‘Neither Meat Nor Fish’ performance, ‘Porto Pianofest’ piano marathon, S. João concerts, and performances by traditional music groups).
Bolhão wins rehabilitation awards nationally and internationally
The Market also won six national awards: National Urban Rehabilitation Award (with distinctions in the areas of best commercial and services use intervention, best structural rehabilitation, and best intervention in the city of Porto), SIL Real Estate (Best Urban Rehabilitation/Trade, Services, and Offices), Construir (Best Rehabilitation Project and Best Trade and Services Space). It also won a design award "Graphis silver award, United States." In addition, it was a finalist for two international awards, namely: European Award – Architectural Heritage Intervention and Urban Land Institute.