Built in 1911 and already designated as "Old" itself, the Market is a listed monument and is currently undergoing a massive restoration project. It was designed to house the motley crew of farmers', butchers' and fishermens' stalls that traditionally congregated near the main gate of the city, the Porta Retimiota - the Gate to Rethymnon. The local architect Konstantinos Drandakis created a cruciform building of 4,000m2, housing more than 70 stores, in less than two years. Its importance as a shopping hub and meeting place was not eclipsed by the advent of large supermarket chains at the close of the twentieth century, although the focus of many of the shops shifted to tourism. It is expected to re-open in early 2024.