A small revolution underway in Casablanca: Derb Ghallef’s Joutia begins its metamorphosis

It’s official. The Derb Ghallef market, the beating heart of the hypercenter of Casablanca, in the heart of Maârif, is preparing to undergo its biggest transformation in more than a century of chaotic existence – its creation dates back to 1922. A vast rehabilitation project of this temple of informal trade, particularly of electronic products, is in preparation, and this time, it is the right one. In sight: the restructuring of the entire Joutia. Gone are the alleys that look like giant shantytowns, the tin roofs and the dilapidated-looking shops.

«Despite its attractiveness, the Derb Ghallef market is perceived as the black spot of Maârif. The time has come to take it seriously“, immediately summarizes Abdessadek Morchid, president of the Council of the district of Maârif, initiator, with the town hall of Casablanca, of the transformation to come.

The new Derb Ghallef will be modern shops, with a maximum height of two levels, but above all a gallery where you will no longer have to slalom between mud puddles or risk electrocution to make your way. Visually, the new souika of Rabat, with its well-ordered shops, its basic services provided and its solid-colored streets, but always with a “rock & roll” character, had set the tone. And for regulars and new visitors alike, it’s a happy shock.

So the anarchy will soon be over, but the persistent rumors that have prevailed until now are already over. The first was that the market was going to be transferred to one of the suburbs of Casablanca, as was the case for the city’s slaughterhouses or the famous Derb Omar, of which only showrooms now remain, the logistics part having been relocated elsewhere. The Derb Ghallef market, as well as all the shops that made its reputation, remains on site. Likewise, its current identity and character will remain intact.

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Joutia traders hold this “soul” firmly. “We support this project, but we do not want a radical change that would distort the market. The objective is to modernize while retaining the soul of Joutia, which is what those responsible have promised us», Declares Abdelmounim Moudkir, president of the Souk Salam Derb Ghallef association. The city is formally committed to this. And let us rest assured: the market, its vocation and its unique “architecture”, will not be altered in any way. The far-fetched idea of ​​an improbable “kissaria-mall” mix, launched here and there, was quickly discarded. “Casablanca has no need for yet another giant shopping center. La Joutia is a living heritage, a trade mark of Casablanca. It is important to rehabilitate and upgrade it, while preserving its identity. This is an essential condition», Specifies the president of the Maârif district council.

Organized chaos

It must be said that the city council and the district are not starting from scratch, quite the contrary. Although we may believe that Derb Ghallef does not obey any rules, it turns out that this market is a real coherent ecosystem, and what’s more, it is organized. For those who don’t know, Joutia is divided into two parts, “Souk Salam” and “Souk Ennajd”, has well-defined access points (8 in total), is broken down into districts distributed according to a clear logic (video games, smartphones, repairs, various parts, etc.), and is marked out in perfectly identified streets and addresses. Without forgetting its laws, based on equity, particularly in terms of store size. It is this famous “stamp” that authorities and traders are so keen to preserve.

Read also: Derb Ghallef: the Casablanca City Council wishes to expropriate the land

More than a shopping mall, the Derb Ghallef market is therefore set to become a work and living space. The project thus includes the construction of an underground car park to relieve congestion in the entire area, a mosque and green spaces all around this complex. An activity zone where the workshops of sheet metal workers, mechanics and other carpenters, currently scattered, will be grouped together is also in the pipeline. “Deemed harmful and noisy, these professions will have a designated space. To their greatest joy and to the great relief of local residents and visitors», explained Abdessadek Morchid.

Mark the terrain

It remains to be seen what the activity will become once the development work begins. Everything suggests that this will be maintained and that the rehabilitation will take place gradually. Suspending businesses while work is underway is out of the question for Derb Ghallef professionals. The trauma of confinement, following the Covid-19 pandemic, is still fresh in our minds. “Interrupting activity, even if only for a few weeks, would signify the end of Joutia», exclaims Mohamed Alaoui, trader and fervent defender of “his” market. And to suggest a block mode of operation. “All we hope is that the work is carried out in stages and in installments, so that we can continue to work and our customers can always benefit from our services in the best conditions.“, he suggests.

There also remains, and above all, a major obstacle, this time of a legal nature: the status of the land on which the market is built, which belongs not to the city, but to private individuals made up of several heirs. The expropriation procedure is nevertheless underway. Prerequisites sine qua non: establish the public utility nature of the project and negotiate the financial compensation for the benefit of the heirs. Everything should be completed by the end of the year, promises Abdessadek Morchid. “Once this procedure has been concluded, we will move on to the actual development.», Announces the president of the Maârif district council. For the moment, neither the start date of the work nor the budget necessary for this project are precisely known. But the path is already mapped out for this small urban revolution in the city of Casablanca…