Photos: Tanque Verde Swap Meet in Tucson through the years
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Rick Wiley
Photo editor
- Updated
Who remembers when the Tanque Verde Swap Meet was on Tanque Verde?
In 1975, Richard Chapin started the Tanque Verde Swap Meet with the help of his parents and sister Linda Fiore. He was 22 at the time.
"I remember it from day one — that was weird. Whew. We had three sellers," Chapin said in a 2001 Tucson Citizen story.
In 1987, the swap meet moved from Tanque Verde and Grant roads to its current location on Palo Verde Road near Ajo Way.
The swap meet is only open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. For more information, visit https://www.tanqueverdeswap.com/.
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Tanque Verde Swap Meet at Grant and Tanque Verde roads in January, 1979. Dan Tortorell / Tucson Citizen
Tanque Verde Swap Meet at Grant and Tanque Verde roads in January, 1979. Dan Tortorell / Tucson Citizen
Tanque Verde Swap Meet at Grant and Tanque Verde roads in April, 1982. Peter Weinberger / Tucson Citizen
Tanque Verde Swap Meet at Grant and Tanque Verde roads in February, 1977. Dan Tortorell / Tucson Citizen
Tanque Verde Swap Meet at Grant and Tanque Verde roads in February, 1977. Dan Tortorell / Tucson Citizen
Tanque Verde Swap Meet at Grant and Tanque Verde roads in April, 1982. Peter Weinberger / Tucson Citizen
Tanque Verde Swap Meet at Grant and Tanque Verde roads in February, 1977. Dan Tortorell / Tucson Citizen
Tanque Verde Swap Meet at Grant and Tanque Verde roads in February, 1977. Dan Tortorell / Tucson Citizen
Tanque Verde Swap Meet at Grant and Tanque Verde roads in April, 1982. Peter Weinberger / Tucson Citizen
Tanque Verde Swap Meet at Grant and Tanque Verde roads in April, 1982. Peter Weinberger / Tucson Citizen
Tanque Verde Swap Meet at Grant Tanque Verde roads in January, 1987. Xavier Gallegos / Tucson Citizen
An electrician prepares light poles at the new location for the Tanque Verde Swap Meet at Palo Verde Road and Ajo Way in February, 1987.
Site preparations at the new location for the Tanque Verde Swap Meet at Palo Verde Road and Ajo Way in February, 1987.
Miguel Urquidez, left, in mirror, and Tomasa Urquidez , right, look at different pairs of sunglasses at the Tanque Verde Swap Meet on June 21, 2008. Dean Knuth / Arizona Daily Star
Maria Jimenez reacts to a buying customer as she works her candy and snack table at the Tanque Verde Swap Meet in 2013. Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star.
Boots from Botas Egures are for sale at the Tanque Verde marketplace in 2001. Some sellers find a space they like and set up what looks like a semi-permanent shop. A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
The crowd thronging the swap meet aisles is reflected in a mirror.
It’s closing time at the swap meet and Adriana Calleja helps haul in the dozens of mannequins used to show off jeans and other fashions for sale.
Abraham Lossou, left, and his son Samuel wait their turn in the chair with Armando Ortiz in Ortiz’s Savage Cutz, a mobile barber shop in a buffed-up trailer. Ortiz bought the trailer for $300 and he and Paul Ruiz gutted it and turned it into an inviting barbershop: wood floors, two barber chairs and a sink.
Rows of decorative rosaries for sale shine under the lights in one of the booths during the Tanque Verde Swap Meet on Saturday
Wayne Turnage restocks his inventory of knives while his grandson Alex Mitchell chows down in the early afternoon. “It hasn’t been a great day,” said Turnage at the end of the session. But he’s optimistic. “I’ll be back,” he says.
Four-year-old Turtle Carter sleeps under the lights of Carters Kidswheel, the children’s Ferris wheel his parents operate, just after sunset at the Tanque Verde Swap Meet on Saturday. The swap meet, celebrating its 40th year in business, has entertainment, services and food in addition to about 19 acres packed with 800 vendors selling merchandise.
Kassandra Vazquez holds her granddaughter Genesis Davila as she gets her eyebrows threaded in Diana Beltran’s booth during the Tanque Verde Swap Meet on Saturday.
Ramon Ruiz hangs the sign over his booth. He’s getting ready for the second, the afternoon, session of the Tanque Verde Swap Meet.
“Hey Macarena” — Vanessa Cota dances with the crew from TK Wholesale outside the booth. The swap meet, packed in the evening, has several entertainment options.
Berenice Abeles, right, holds her baby Raben Abeles, 2 months, while looking for shoes at a booth at the Tanque Verde Swap Meet on June 21, 2008 in Tucson. Dean Knuth / Arizona Daily Star
People walk by mannequins with womens jeans at the Tanque Verde Swap Meet on June 21, 2008. Dean Knuth / Arizona Daily Star
Dmitrick Lopez, 6, right, watches Chang Yi draw names at the Tanque Verde Swap Meet on June 21, 2008. Dean Knuth / Arizona Daily Star
Purses are backlit at the Tanque Verde Swap Meet on June 21, 2008. Dean Knuth / Arizona Daily Star
Rafaela Crockwell's truck is surrounded as women look through clothes at the Tanque Verde Swap Meet on June 27, 2008. Dean Knuth / Arizona Daily Star
Elbert Esquivel with the Eden Company sets up his booth at the Tanque Verde Swap Meet on June 27, 2008.
Tanque Verde Swap Meet draws a wide variety of people in 2001. Max Becherer / Arizona Daily Star
Rain clouds roll over the Goldfish booth, one of the carny games running on a dark, cold evening at the Tanque Verde Swap Meet, Tucson, Ariz., January 22, 2022.
Anahy Fernandez dusts off the selection of musical instruments on display in the Guitarras Paracho booth at the Tanque Verde Swap Meet, Tucson, Ariz., January 22, 2022.
Rows of mannequins display the clothing available at the Fashion District booth, one of the regular vendors at the Tanque Verde Swap Meet, Tucson, Ariz., January 22, 2022.
Roberto Estrella sorts oranges on sale from his truck and table set up at the Tanque Verde Swap Meet, Tucson, Ariz., January 22, 2022.
Rick Wiley
Photo editor
As featured on
Tanque Verde Swap Meet at 40 — has just about everything.
Denver-based United Flea Markets bought the 30-acre site at 4100 S. Palo Verde Road.
Denver-based United Flea Markets bought the 30-acre site at 4100 S. Palo Verde Road.
