Business Woes at the Juarez Mercado

The violence and the bad economy have hit the Juarez tourist trade very hard. No place can you see it better than the Juarez Mercado where merchants can wait days for a customer. One merchant told Newschannel 9's Nick Miller, he hasn't had a sale since last Sunday, another said he made one sale on Thursday for about three dollars and fifty cents. Many merchants in the mercado come to work only on certain days because there just aren't any customers. The mercado caters to tourists and tourists are afraid to travel to Juarez. The few tourists they do get aren't typical. Some are members of missionary groups, others are in Juarez for medical or dental care and they don't spend much money. The merchants say they don't know how long they can stay in business. They're hoping spring break will bring them some good luck.