Things to see in El Mercado at The Boulevard

The Boulevard is the oldest shopping mall in Las Vegas, but it has reinvented itself in recent years by adding a variety of family attractions, restaurants, entertainment, and stores that showcase Hispanic culture.

A highlight of the mall’s unique evolution is a vibrant mall within the mall, called El Mercado (Spanish for the marketplace).

Located in a large space that once housed a JC Penney department store, El Mercado is a diverse treasure trove of Latin American culture with nearly 200 stores to shop, a food court, and live entertainment. 

It’s like a boutique version of the Broadacres Marketplace swap meet, filled with local vendors selling handmade arts, crafts, clothes, shoes, jewelry, and home decor from various regions of the world; all rendered even more festive by authentic cuisine and music.

“This is a destination,” writes Madison K on Yelp. “It’s somewhere between a flea market and a bougie suburban mall–but with an ethnic twist.”

Decorated with piñatas and colorful flags from around the world, El Mercado is a festive and eye-catching addition to the longtime mall. For many shoppers, stepping inside and perusing the shops is like taking a trip to South or Central America.

“For a second I had a feeling I went to Mexico and was enjoying Mexican spirit but then I realized I am in Las Vegas,” writes Yelper Nicky Z.

A one-stop for Hispanic mom-and-pop shops

From quinceañera dresses to mariachi instruments and leather sandals to clay crafts, El Mercado is fully stocked with unique and one-of-a-kind finds, many of which are handmade and related to Hispanic culture. 

Since each shop is locally owned and operated, shopping here supports small businesses in the community.

Some of the vendors found inside this cultural marketplace include:

• Adriana’s Custom Crafts: Order personalized clothing and accessories like T-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, caps, keychains, aprons, lunch boxes, sewing boxes, and more as well as personalized party favors.
• Amazing Ecuador: Capture a glimpse of South America with high-quality, handmade clothing, crafts, and souvenirs from Ecuador and Peru. In addition to alpaca fur products, you’ll find artisan handbags, and hats as well as chocolates from Pacari.
• D’ Bonita El Orgullo: Browse a wide variety of women’s Mexican clothing, Frida Kahlo shirts, footwear and accessories as well as colorful clay crafts.
• Los Mochis Jewelry: Have your watch and fine jewelry fixed or buy new silver and gold pieces at this full-service jewelry repair shop.
• Espíritu De México: Buy sterling silver jewelry handcrafted by Mexican artisans.
• Mariachi Depot: You’re covered from head to toe at the city’s first store dedicated to mariachi with dresses, earrings, suits, belt buckles, bowties, hats, and, of course, instruments.
• Rubi’s Sweet XV: Quinceañera, prom, or wedding, you’re sure to find the perfect dress here to make you feel like royalty on your big day.
• Cultura Latina: Your whole family can show their spirit for their favorite sports teams from Central America, South America, México and the U.S. with T-shirts of all sizes.

A taste of Latin America

Whether it’s Brazilian, Venezuela, Argentinian, Cuban, Mexican, or another Hispanic cuisine you’re craving, the international food court at El Mercado has you covered. 

“The shops all look cute, but the big draw for me was the food court,” writes Yelper Madison K. “Offering everything from vegan Mexican cuisine to meaty things dipped in meat juices, every stall has real appeal.”

Here’s a sampling of the many flavors you’ll find at the food court. To find the restaurant you want, just follow your nose!

• 702 Churros: Satisfy your sweet tooth with a gourmet churro or milkshake, made from scratch and served fresh.
• Sabor A México: Fill up on authentic Mexican food like enchiladas, fajitas, tamales, and flautas.
• Nevería Las Palmas: Grab a traditional Mexican snack, drink or ice cream made fresh.
• Los Manguitos: Stock up on your favorite Central American snacks, sweets,  seasonal fruits, and other groceries from countries like El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and México.
• 911 Taco Bar: Satisfy your food emergencies with traditional or vegan tacos, and a ton of other delicious Mexican food choices.

Let them entertain you

Rounding out the El Mercado experience is a large stage for entertainment.

In addition to celebrating holidays like Día de Muertos and special occasions like Hispanic Heritage Month, you can often catch live music performances on weekends. 

With plenty of seating in the food court, it’s easy to take a break from shopping to grab some food, then sit back and enjoy a show before heading back to the shops.

El Mercado at the Boulevard Mall, 3528 S. Maryland Parkway is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.