The study of food vendor’s selling space and equipment management in urban flea markets

Street vending is a vital part of the urban informal economy worldwide, providing accessible food, employment and cultural vibrancy. In Bangkok, food vendors in urban flea markets often operate within both formal and informal settings, frequently navigating spatial limitations and regulatory ambiguity. This study investigates how vendors manage their selling space and organize their equipment to optimize efficiency, hygiene and service delivery under varying constraints. Drawing on observations of 251 stalls across eleven flea markets, the research categorizes vendors based on market formality and space structure, identifying key adaptive strategies. The findings highlight vendor-led spatial innovation, the role of equipment in layout design and the influence of market type on organization. Grounded in literature on informal economies and critiques of top-down regulation, the study argues for a flexible, incentive-based management approach, like rent scaled to actual space use, to support vendor equity and urban order. This research contributes to global discussions on informal urbanism, offering practical insights for city planners and market managers.