Jogja City Government Says Many Terban Market Stalls Empty as Traders Withdraw

Seven months after reopening following renovations, many stalls at Pasar Terban in Yogyakarta City remain empty. The Yogyakarta City Government has revealed the cause and is opening opportunities for city residents to fill them.

Pasar Terban was formerly known as a poultry market. Although the poultry sector is still maintained on the first floor along with a slaughtering area, Pasar Terban is now more complete. The second floor houses a tailoring area and book traders relocated from the pedestrian walkways. The third floor contains a culinary area, with vendors also relocated from the pavements. Although there is no escalator like at Pasar Sentul, architecturally and in terms of facilities, it appears more premium, modern, spacious, and clean.

The Head of the People’s Market Division at the Yogyakarta City Trade Office, Gunawan Nugroho Utomo, explained that the first-floor area is fully occupied by poultry and vegetable traders who are original Pasar Terban vendors. For the second and third floors, initial data collection showed they were fully booked and even insufficient to accommodate the traders who previously occupied the pavements. However, over time, traders who had already secured stalls did not end up occupying them.

‘At the beginning in February, based on the data received, it should have been full. They had already taken lottery numbers and so on. They had already got their spots and just needed to complete the paperwork for their appointment as traders,’ Gunawan explained when contacted by detikJogja on Tuesday (4/8/2026). ‘However, by the given deadline, which was around four or five months if I’m not mistaken—February, March, April, May, June—around June, they had not appeared. We then determined that those who had previously applied to become traders were considered to have withdrawn,’ he continued.

For other traders who had applied initially but had not yet received a stall, Gunawan said they are currently still in the process of data collection and curation to obtain a stall. ‘Because we prioritise those who were already in the initial data collection by the Kemantren. In fact, during the initial data collection, the spaces were insufficient, but in the end, many were not willing to move in,’ Gunawan stated. ‘Now the current stage is that we are responding to or will accept applications to become traders who will enter Pasar Terban. There are many applications from residents as well,’ he added.

If still possible, Gunawan said his office is opening the door for other traders who wish to occupy the empty stalls at Pasar Terban. However, they are still prioritising traders holding Yogyakarta City identity cards. ‘The requirements are very easy: submit an application letter to become a trader. It’s simple, whether typed or handwritten. Our priority is clearly Yogyakarta city ID card holders, so just attach a photocopy of the ID card,’ Gunawan said. ‘Then in the letter, addressed to the Head of the Yogyakarta City Trade Office, write your name, address, contactable phone number, and state your willingness to apply to become a trader at the specified market. Mention the type of goods you will trade, whether culinary, sundries, vegetables, or meat, so we can plot according to the zones. That’s all, actually, and there is no charge, only a retribution fee,’ he concluded.