Taipei Travel

Five Star Market - a New Tourist Attraction

Shidong Market - Friendliness, Innovation, Sincerity

Article｜Tu Xiny    Photos｜Jiang Youren

If shopping in Tianmu (天母) is your plan, there are department stores, supermarkets and retail wholesalers to choose from. But that’s not all–there’s also a five-star traditional market on Shidong Road (士東路) just waiting for you. This highly-renowned emporium resembles a giant supermarket, with cool AC, a clean and tidy floor plan, a bright environment, and not a hint of fish or meat to assault your nostrils. Moreover, there are free shopping carts available at every entrance. The chairperson of Taipei Public Shidong Market Council (台北市公有士東市場自治會), Xu Guizhao (許桂招), speaks of this place with pride: “our market looks so different from others that we even had a Japanese drama shot here once.”
 

Local Market Upgrades to Supermarket Scale

Shidong vendors are mostly second generation, having taken over the family business from their folks. These young people, understanding that many foreigners live in the neighborhood, have bypassed traditional sale concepts in favor of innovative methods and trends. Zhang Lifeng (張麗鳳), the owner of Zhenqi Douyan (珍奇豆宴) vegetable stand, used to be a designer and went abroad frequently. She saw how markets in Europe had already left behind old ways. “Traditional markets have been upgraded, especially in Germany, Spain and the Netherlands,” Zhang says, “They’re moving more toward a supermarket model. I believe this is what Taiwan should do, and Shidong has such potential.”

Her partner, Xie Zhulan, sells fruit but doesn’t display her produce in paper boxes or plastic baskets as regular purveyors do. Instead, she keeps them in high-quality wicker baskets and uses dried flowers to make them look pretty. She often tells customers, “I design my stand as if it were a regular store counter and I am the sales lady.” Even if this setup costs a little more, Xie believes that nowadays a traditional market needs something special to make customers stop by. “If the young people are coming in, then we can consider our goal accomplished.”

Be a Good Neighbor and Project a Friendly Charm

Since its upgrade, Shidong Market has succeeded in keeping customers in the neighborhood. It has also attracted more tourists, and many vendors have learned to speak some simple English and Japanese along the way. This commercial center boasts of its Five Star business accreditation, but it is also proud of preserving the humanity of the original, more traditional marketplace. Furthermore, to meet consumers’ needs, about 80 percent of the vendors here provide delivery. A phone call or an instant message is all that is needed to enjoy this service!

Vendors here are not just friendly, but also charitable. Recently, the Surplus Food Center was established, wherein surplus fresh food could be donated by vendors and left in a special fridge after hours. The government’s social department has access to this fridge and can contact welfare organizations in order to facilitate distribution of the groceries to elders, the disabled and poor families. These generous businesspeople have also provided scholarships for worthy neighborhood students.

As a “Five Star” market, Shidong doesn’t hold a prominent position but has indeed turned itself into a good and close member of the community.

Shidong Market

Tue. to Sun. (closed on Mon.)

First floor: 07:30～19:00; Second floor: 7:30～20:00

100, Shidong Rd., Shilin District

MRT Zhishan Station, Exit 2, walk for about 15 minutes, or take a bus to Tianmu Baseball Stadium or Shidong Elementary School

Zhenqi Douyan – Zhenqi Vegetable

First floor, No. 104

Zhenqi’s high-quality products include organic vegetables and farm produce, as well as dried fruit, helping customers to eat healthy and safe. The store’s neat and innovative product arrangement will make customers feel like they’re in a European market!

Cantonese Congee

Second floor, No. 236

At this stand, the congee tastes like the authentic congee found only at fine Cantonese restaurants. The fried rice and noodles taste good even when cold, and the tasty dishes are never greasy. Many of the delicacies are enhanced by a spoonful of spicy homemade dried turnip. Is it any wonder this stand won the “World’s Best Vendor” award at the 2016 Taipei Market Festival?