I thought I saw the owner spending a lot of time at the BooBar....
I wonder if the condo people are staying back out there more.....Changos/Wrecked at the Reef....instead of coming to the Malecon with all the construction.
Cathi and Jill are opening a restaurant/bar called "The Joint" in the original Portofino building. Good luck to them. They are a couple very smart ladies and I hope they do well.
Life changes everyday embrace the change, it'll be ok! Cathi will always do well! Having said that Naomi and I have always enjoyed our time at the Parrot
Wow - was I ever surprised when I pulled down to the Malecon yesterday to buy some shrimp. The place is usually hustle and bustle Sunday mornings, but it looked like the place had been bombed! The road is a patchwork of cuts and sand throughout the area. And I think a total of three of the fish markets were actually open --everything else was shuttered up pretty tight. Deadsville. I guess all the construction and new facades and such have really taken a toll, not to mention the lack of gringos. Only saw one other American come by for shrimp in the 30 minutes we were there. But did get a great deal on some big browns and 10 lbs. of steamer clams for $5! Guess what's for dinner tonight? Yummy!!
I really wonder whether the new facades and the loss of parking spaces (the parking was bad even before the construction) will be another nail in the coffin of the Malecon. Does anyone know if there is any additional parking planned for the area?
I really wonder whether the new facades and the loss of parking spaces (the parking was bad even before the construction) will be another nail in the coffin of the Malecon. Does anyone know if there is any additional parking planned for the area?
I have heard that there is a plan, perhaps informal, to close off the Malecon to vehicles completely and make it a walking mall. Off site parking with vans for tourists.
There also was a plan announced to extend the malecon road all the way around Whale Hill conncecting to the Mirador. Vin Del Mar would go away completely under this plan with shops build along the carved out road on Whale Hill.
I have heard that there is a plan, perhaps informal, to close off the Malecon to vehicles completely and make it a walking mall. Off site parking with vans for tourists.
Well, that will put the fish markets out of business. Gringos aren't gonna huck a cooler back and forth to fill with ice and shrimp/whatever seafood. That's always been part of the beauty of the malecon -- you can pull right up to the fish markets and they'll load whatever you buy right into your cooler AND give you some ice!
The fish markets have always been the heart and soul of the malecon. I suppose they could relocate the fish markets somewhere else, but in my opinion, they will never survive there if the only access to them is walking.
There still has to be some driving access for delivery trucks and such, so unless they just gate off the whole area, I don't know how they'd accomplish it.
I had wondered about the parking. Unless there is some special plan that we do not know about I think they have created a failure for the area. Half the fun of going there was all of the vendors inviting you in to see there stuff and buy. I also noticed concrete boxes being built on the streets that looked like future planters. If this is what they are there goes more parking. I wonder if they are planning on making the new building into a new grand mercado for all of these vendors. Who knows how great minds work and how planners minds don't.
Stuart,
do you go to the same guy each time you buy shrimp?
I always go to Armondos', don't know if he gives me a "returning customer" deal but he's friendly enough.
Not sure if I should buy from different guys occasionally or keep going to Armondo.
I'm not liking the look going on at the malecon. I was sitting at Kamikazees and could hardly see the road to "people" watch
with all the columns and stuff they've built.
I usually go to the guy on the left just as you turn into the Malecon, but this weekend, he wasn't open. As I said, only about three of the markets were open. I used to go to Cowboy all the time, too, but he was also closed. Just took my chances with somebody else, but the shrimp, price and weights were all good. I think it was Armondos.
Yeah, definitely different down there right now. I hope they get it all sorted out.
The fish markets have always been the heart and soul of the malecon.
I agree Stuart, if I don't make it down that way at least once while I'm there, the trip just doesn't seem complete. Heck, In times past I used to sit on the wall with the guy's trying to get people to go fishing, and make reeling motions with my hands too.:lol: I often fished the point of safe harbor with the locals, and had a blast. More than once I was invited to their homes for fish Taco's or what not. Crap, I'm gonna start:crybaby:
I remember about 30 (?) years ago when they moved the fish vendors from where the shrimp boats docked to the malecon. Everybody was upset about the move, but it eventually worked out. I hope things work out with the new construction.
The sea food vendors aren't at all happy with the revisions to the Malecon, especially the loss of parking. The impact is already apparent, according to the posts on this thread, and from my recent observations. A lot of money has been spent on at least three re-constructions of the malecon, and now there isn't enough money to finish the streets, but enough money to build concrete facades in front of the shops. Closing the malecon to vehicular traffic will create serious logistics problems, which will kill the sea food vendors.
As far as buying sea food, as long as one is buying for immediate consumption, or certain types of fish, the vendors on the malecon are fine. However, it's always best to buy shrimp in frozen blocks. The shrimp on the malecon was once frozen and defrosted. The exception is fresh shrimp bought right off the pangas. The shrimp boats go out for several days at a time and freeze the shrimp on the boat. I buy my shrimp in frozen two kilo blocks from the owner of several shrimp boats. Frozen shrimp and other types of frozen sea foods are available from several processing plants around town. One plant is located on Sinaloa, one block east of Benito Juarez, east of Burger King.
I usually go to the guy on the left just as you turn into the Malecon, but this weekend, he wasn't open. As I said, only about three of the markets were open. I used to go to Cowboy all the time, too, but he was also closed. Just took my chances with somebody else, but the shrimp, price and weights were all good. I think it was Armondos.
Yeah, definitely different down there right now. I hope they get it all sorted out.
I have bought shrimp, scallops, clams, flounder, sea trout, and "chicken fish" (which is unbelievable) for over 20 years from Jose'. Jose has his own place now right below what is/was (?) "El Perrico" next to the statue on the Malecon. I think he used to work at Armando's but opened his own space 1-2 yrs ago. He is very friendly and extremely honest, always telling me if the shrimp is fresh (more fresh) or frozen. He will tell me to avoid certain fish if it is too old, etc. He will cut bait, clean/shell my shrimp on the spot, clean any fish I catch, etc.
Just a good hearted guy who works hard at making relationships and hopefully loyal & long-term customers. ( I have seen his kids grow up from toddlers to now teenagers). I tip him well and would not go to anyone else, unless he is closed.
Just a thought in case anyone's loyal 'shrimp guy' might be closed or are looking for somebody new to buy shrimp from...
I had wondered about the parking. Unless there is some special plan that we do not know about I think they have created a failure for the area. Half the fun of going there was all of the vendors inviting you in to see there stuff and buy. I also noticed concrete boxes being built on the streets that looked like future planters. If this is what they are there goes more parking. I wonder if they are planning on making the new building into a new grand mercado for all of these vendors. Who knows how great minds work and how planners minds don't.
I totally agree. Driving down to the Malecon and being able to park in front and run into one of the restaurants, or to buy shrimp, is part of the experience of going to Penasco. I think Kenny mentioned this as well.
The one thing I have never understood, especially when it is busy, is why the employees of the bars, restaurants and shrimp stalls... they all park their own vehicles right in front of the establishments they are waving the visitors and tourists to come in to AND by default , because of the filled up spaces, their customers have to just drive down the way to park somewhere else.
Seems it would be smart if those parking spaces were freed up for their customers. It might help at least a little bit... ??
rplarry - Most of these guys sell the same stuff. We all have our favorite that we have dealt with for a number of years. However, any of these vendors who tells you that their shrimp is "fresh" is not being completely honest. Virtually all of the shrimp sold on the Malecon has been previously frozen and defrosted. The only truly "fresh" shrimp is bought off the pangas, usually with heads on. "Chicken fish" is incredible on the grill.
We're planning to go down the week of January 11th for a little R&R, but for me it's to buy my shrimp for the year (about 35lbs.) I always buy from Alberto/Jessie. Do you think he will be closed? Are the shrimp vendors closed on weekdays? Are they ALL open on weekends? If we can't get shrimp from a reliable place, I might postpone my trip until Spring Break when I know it will be busy.
I'm heading down on Thursday and wondering if anybody has an update on the malecon as of late? I LOVE the shrimp cocktails down there and NEED to get one, just don't want a big hassle to get in there. Also, what is the difference between brown and blue shrimp (I'm a shrimp newbie)?