The Movie Ends at Redwood Road Drive-In
The protest in September of this year at City Council sign reads “The community relies on the swap meet to live!!!”
By Neila Arragan, November 19th, 2024
In the state of Utah, 16% of the population is Hispanic in the year 2022 demographics show West Valley City has the most Hispanics with the statistic of 38%. West Valley is the heart of the Hispanic community, here you can find both the indoor swap meet as well as the Redwood Road outdoor swap meet.
Although Redwood Road has something special about it, many vendors as well as buyers have filled up the parking lots since 1960. Specifically on the weekends it was the perfect place to pass time with family and wind down after a long week.
On Sunday’s it was filled with people as it was routine for many to visit the Redwood Road swap on Sundays, yet when it wasn’t the weekend, the streets that were once filled with carps were now filled with cars.
Movies were played on big screens outdoors this was something unique to the Redwood Road swap meet. Yet will soon vanish.
The owner of the land that the Swap meet had been making decisions to sell the area. The new owners planned on bulldozing the place, removing the iconic Swap Meet, and replacing it with apartments.
Many disagreed, and they did not stay quiet. Members of the community as well as vendors came together to sign petitions. If that didn’t work, they protested outside City Hall. Where many held signs with similar messages such as “The community relies on the swap meet to live!” a reality many vendors share.
The Redwood Road Swap Meet has been a second home for many Utahans.
A place where the community could find entertainment, experience Hispanic gastronomy, as well as buy and sell unique goods. With a record of 7,000 weekly attendees and more than 500 vendors.
Yet this wasn’t the only thing that united the community for many the Redwood Road swap meet had a deeper value for some it was the nostalgic memories of their childhood either shopping or selling, many relied on their earnings to live.
For some upcoming entrepreneurs, it was an effortless way to introduce their products to customers many vendors such as Gutierrez, were able to expand their business due to the clients they have reached thanks to the Swap Meet.
It was officially announced on September 17th council voted 5-2 that the Redwood Road swap meet would come to an end. This space will be replaced with luxury apartments some say, many people in the area wouldn’t be able to afford.
A common trend happening in Utah now reaching a place that holds onto culture and community.
