Most Muscovites now do their shopping not in traditional shops or brand new big expensive malls. Street markets of all sizes and types recently became the champions of retail sales race, they are the most visited and most active shopping areas. This is not exactly a flea market, all items here are brand new and imported. On the other hand, a choice of snacks and drinks is really good and kids are as happy about the food kiosks as their parents. And if you look carefully at the photo on the right, you'll see another sign of the times, rollerblades, the most popular toy of Moscow kids in the fall of 1996.
Farm markets are more traditional.
Trucks and cars from villages around Moscow come to the city and supply us with potatoes, cabbages, carrots, apples and lots of other stuff. Prices are lower than in the shops and quality is much better. Everything else seems to be eternal and timeless on Moscow markets. One of the largest city markets of clothes and footwear occupies most of the building of a huge sports arena of the Central Army Sports Club on Leningradsky Prospect. And these devoted shoppers miss a lot.