Less than two years after Mayor Tomašević opened the new three-million-euro market, the space has been left empty due to an impractical architectural design. Reconstruction works have already begun, with completion expected in November.
For over fifty years, residents of Vrapče waited for their neighborhood market to undergo renovation. The dilapidated and dark building from the 1960s was finally replaced by a new structure, which Mayor Tomislav Tomašević ceremoniously opened in February 2025. However, the story of the new social hub of the settlement soon took an unexpected turn-the market remained nearly empty, and construction works have now resumed.
The architectural solution, which cost three million euros, proved to be highly impractical for everyday use. Tenants began leaving the market one by one, with key complaints including overly small business spaces-insufficient for a butcher shop, poultry trade, or grocery store-and excessively narrow aisles between stalls. Even the covered outdoor area failed to provide adequate protection from rain and wind.
The open section of the market was initially covered with a pergola, and later, at the request of vendors and customers, an additional canopy was installed. However, even this solution did not meet expectations. Vendors complained that the plastic was simply cut out, causing water to pour down on customers in torrents during rain.
The city administration recognized the problem and initiated the renovation process as early as February this year. After a tender that lasted several months, the contract was awarded to the company Kustošija građenje, the only bidder. Although the estimated value of the tender was 80,000 euros, the final cost of the works rose to 115,279 euros excluding VAT, or 144,000 euros including tax.
The City of Zagreb confirmed that preparatory works are already underway. According to information from Radićev trg, the contractor has been on site since July 20, 2026, and is currently carrying out works according to the schedule. The completion of all works, technical inspections, and handover is expected on November 16, 2026.
According to the main project of the tender, the scope includes the dismantling of parts of the facade and joinery, demolition of partition walls, and relocation of electrical installations. Inside, certain partition walls are being removed, and the new solution closes off the market's vestibules, thereby gaining more enclosed space. The ground floor is expected to be expanded by an additional 11 square meters.
The reconstruction does not affect the entire building, but only part of the ground floor where the business spaces for the sale of meat, poultry, fish, and flowers are located. The documentation emphasizes that the new layout of the rooms will be more efficient and better lit. Tržnice Zagreb previously highlighted that the northern part of the ground floor houses closed shops and business spaces, while the part facing the park is designed as a flexible space with movable benches for selling fruits and vegetables.
The old Vrapče market was built in the 1960s and had not undergone any renovation for decades. More serious plans for its replacement began to take shape about ten years ago. The conceptual design was created in 2019, and the tender for works was announced in the summer of 2023. Construction itself began in March 2024 and was completed by the end of that year, with the market officially opening on February 22, 2025.
