On the side of the Plaza de Abastos (market square) were the traditional and bustling fixed fruit and vegetable stalls. On both sides of the main façade were the popular wooden kiosks. On the left, since the 1940s, the one known as “La Mariquita” (The Ladybird) was mainly dedicated to the sale of haberdashery. Although the kiosk was small in size, Mariquita and José always got what the customers asked for. On the right, from the 1960s onwards, the “Joselico” café kiosk was established, which was very popular at the start of the day with customers from the square and local residents who bought the daily press there.
The wooden kiosks were replaced by the current ones in 1983, which were completely integrated into the façade. Today, they are still the commercial and social anteroom of the Plaza de Abastos.
In 2004, the kiosk of “la Mariquita” and her brother José closed after half a century of activity, and with it disappeared one of the most emblematic shops in Alcantarilla.
