Does this name seem familiar? That’s because Gypsy Market was once part of JJ Green. The owner has now collaborated with notorious gambler-cum-businessman Chud Tao Poon on this B100 million transformation of a shadowy, 1.6-kilometer-long swathe of road beneath the soon-to-be MRT Bang Son station. But don’t expect the new market to be the same as the old one. After a major revamp, it now sports an Oriental-meets-Wild-West vibe.

 

What we like: Piles and piles of eye-candy spanning everything from collectible Lego to taxidermied buffalo, auto spares, classic movie posters and knickknacks for the home. Many stalls also have old turntables crackling out vinyl music, while elsewhere you’ll find impromptu gigs from indie outfits, complete with haybale seating.

 

What to buy: The secondhand and faux-old items are strictly themed by section: nostalgic sweets, old-school toys, secondhand apparel, Harley-Davidson collectibles, comic books and more. We also found some lovely time-honored home curios like porcelain kitchenware and ceramic flower pots. There are a number of pop-up bars, too, most of which have a cross-continental tavern kind of vibe and affordable prices.

 

What annoys us: With both cyclists and motorcyclists riding the entire 1.6km stretch, the market can seem un-pedestrian-friendly at times. We love looking at all the custom bikes, but they’d be nicer stationary and not screeching past us.

 

Who goes there: With a shortage of convenient transport, most visitors come from around the area––families, students and other random market explorers.

 

Pro tips: If you happen to own a bike, bring it with you to avoid feeling left out. Also, the ground-level railway running alongside the market is still active. Keep a wide distance!