Nagaland: Shopkeepers worried on open-space vendors in New Market

The introduction of open-space vending areas in New Market has triggered mixed reactions among local shopkeepers and street vendors, highlighting growing tension in the commercial hub.
In an interview with Nagaland Post Wednesday, several shopkeepers voiced frustration, stating that the presence of open-space vendors disrupts the normal flow of customers into established shops. One shopkeeper remarked that the placement of vendors directly in front of shop entrances makes it difficult for buyers to access the stores, ultimately affecting sales. “Customers tend to stop at the roadside stalls itself and rarely proceed inside,” the shopkeeper noted, noting that the situation has become increasingly challenging during peak market hours. According to second-hand shop owners, the rise of open-space markets has significantly reduced footfall in their stores. They claimed that buyers now prefer browsing through cheaper alternatives offered by street vendors instead of visiting regular shops. “People no longer come into our shops the way they used to. With so many open-air stalls offering low-priced goods, business has dropped sharply,” one second-hand shopkeeper said.
On the other hand, open-space vendors shared a different reality. Many stated that their earnings are modest—often just a few hundred rupees a day—and they still have to pay rent for the small spaces allotted to them. “We are not making big profits. We earn just enough to manage daily needs, and even then, we pay rent for the space,” said one vendor, emphasizing that the open-space market is their only livelihood.