Bazaar
Supermarket
vs
Chapter 2
(1)
Trade structure
Parkent Bazaar, Tashkent, 2019
Over the past decades, the map of Tashkent bazaars has changed several times. Due to the common trend for globalization and Western influence some bazaars were turned into shopping malls or disappeared on the whole. The remaining ones have been reconstructed many times, or are in line for reconstruction in the coming years.
The bazaars have more and more competitors, especially in big cities. Supermarkets and small shops are often open from early morning until late night, or even work 24 hours.
You can purchase goods in smaller amounts (less than a kilogram) in a shop. There are also delivery services. These services are the inevitable result of modern lifestyle, especially led by the younger generation.
Chorsu Market, Tashkent, 2024
Dmitry Kostyushkin
Local history expert, member of the UNESCO International Institute for Central Asian Studies
Open borders, supermarkets and small shops expansion—all played its role in the disappearance of life seasonality. Not so long ago, the bazaar was purely seasonal—only recently harvested products appeared on the counters. And nowadays, you can buy Iranian apples and Brazilian bananas at any time of the year, winter or summer. Farmers have also changed their methods, focusing on a few—or even a single—products, which has significantly extended the season.
The rhythm of daily life also changed. People used to spend the entire day at a bazaar. You had to bargain to buy at a good price. And it took hours. Right now, people have no more than half an hour to jump out of the car, load everything into a cart and run back home.
Parkent Bazaar, Tashkent, 2019
Andijan City Market, 2019
Bazaar's advantages
(2)
Parkent Bazaar, Tashkent, 2019
However, many still prefer bazaars for large weekly purchases. It’s easy to check the freshness of the products, talk to the seller and bargain for the best price. Supermarkets cannot provide this fusion of everyday and commercial communication.
Buyers love bazaars for their direct connection to the land. It’s a place where you can find locally produced goods. Thanks to its location within the city, it offers maximum convenience for daily shopping and for catching up on the latest news—all in one place.
Even though the city has grown significantly and many small "green" markets appeared in neighborhoods, Chorsu became a weekend or a special occasion bazaar due to its scale.
Parkent Bazaar, Tashkent, 2019
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Parkent Bazaar, Tashkent, 2019
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Chorsu Market, Tashkent, 2024
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Parkent Bazaar, Tashkent, 2019
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Latifazhon Khaitova
Retiree, 70 years old, a buyer at Chorsu and Yunusabad bazaars
When the weather is good, I love to walk to the bazaar. In contrast to the store, at the bazaar you have the opportunity to select only the freshest products and bargain. In addition, the assortment is larger. However, I can’t always buy a lot, and some sellers don’t sell less than a kilogram.
I buy vegetables and fruits at the Yunusabad Bazaar when my children and granddaughters come to visit me. Chorsu is for national souvenirs for foreign guests, or for household goods. I go there when I need kitchen utensils, towels, and home clothes. When I lived in the Sebzar neighborhood, Chorsu was our favorite bazaar, but now Yunusabad is closer to home and more convenient for daily shopping.
Parkent Bazaar, Tashkent, 2019
Chorsu Market, Tashkent, 2024
Parkent Bazaar, Tashkent, 2019
There are also some categories of the goods that are hard or even impossible to find elsewhere, such as funeral supplies, artisan products, tubeteikas (skullcaps), and local sweets. People come to the markets for these goods, where they can choose from a wide assortment or place a special order through a seller to suit their taste.
Chorsu Market, Tashkent, 2024
The bazaar offers flexibility. Unlike supermarkets, it is made up of small and medium-sized entrepreneurs, who are generally easier to deal with in case of a conflict.
If the client is not satisfied, there is no need to seek a refund through additional authorities. The seller will try to make up for the situation with a discount or a gift to retain the client’s goodwill.
Chorsu as a living symbol
(3)
Chorsu is the city’s main social hub, where economic and cultural interactions are closely intertwined. This function ensures the unity of the bazaar and also serves as an important factor in shaping the local identity of the community.
Chorsu Market, Tashkent, 2024
Parkent Bazaar, Tashkent, 2019
Chorsu Market, Tashkent, 2024
Currently, there are seventy-one officially registered markets in Tashkent, twelve of which are traditional. Some of them have a particular focus, such as the Yangiobod flea market or the Ippodrom market, where clothes and household utensils are sold. However, most of the bazaars are universal, meaning one can find food and related products there.
The market got its name from the Persian word "chorsu", meaning "four roads". This was the name of all retail spaces located at the crossroads. Trade in these large urban bazaars took place every day, unlike in smaller markets, which usually operated only on certain days of the week.
Judging by old photographs, it was also omni-purpose: people sold not only artisan products but also food and other everyday consumer goods. So over time, this word turned into a proper noun for the Tashkent market.
Chorsu bazaar is the oldest and the most significant one for the city. All roads from the city gates of old Tashkent once led to it. And today it’s one of the symbols of the city.
Today, Chorsu continues to function as the local market for the city’s central district, where residents come for their regular purchases. At the same time, it serves as the city’s main tourist trade center because of the increased flow of tourists in recent decades.
Chorsu Market, Tashkent, 2024
Map of Chorsu and the surrounding neighborhoods
