Cuernavaca’s neighborhood markets are only half alive. Stalls sit closed, aisles feel thin, and sellers say the problem isn’t effort—it’s infrastructure and demand. Only two markets, Buena Vista and Lomas de la Selva, are working close to their full potential. That contrast raises a simple question with big consequences for small livelihoods: what does it take for traditional markets to thrive when foot traffic shifts and basic services fall short?