Wrexham currently has three indoor markets: the People's Market, the Butchers' Market and a General Market. Between them, they have over 100 stalls selling a variety of produce including food, clothes and gifts.
Wrexham is first mentioned as having a market in a list of tolls dated 1391. The first indoor market to be built, the Butchers' Market, was opened in May 1848. Before it was built market stalls selling meat would be set up in High Street and other nearby streets. The market was renovated in 1992.
The Butter Market opened in 1879. Originally, as the name suggests, it sold butter and other dairy produce, which local farmers brought for sale. After the rationing of WWII and new hygiene regulations the Butter Market became a general market.
The Vegetable Market was opened on what was originally the site of Market Square, where market gardeners would sell their produce. To begin with, it was an open space but walls were built around it and it was roofed over. It was extended at the end of the 1920s until it became the largest of the three covered markets in Wrexham. It was modernised in 1972 but the building was demolished in 1990 as part of the town's redevelopment plan. It was replaced by the People's Market, which opened in the same year. The choice of the name People's Market was initially controversial, with some claiming it sounded as though it belonged to a Communist regime! However, the name remains to this day.
The Beast Market was originally located at St George's Crescent, the site of a cattle market since the 15th century. This became a general open market which continues to be hold on Mondays. The Monday market has moved several times: to Eagles Meadow in 1971, Waterworld leisure centre car park in 2002 and to its current location in the town centre in 2006. Cattle sales continued to be held at Smithfield. A new market was built in 1955 there but it was demolished and a bingo hall stands on the site now.
Wrexham's newest shopping centre, Eagles Meadow opened in October 2008.
