Margie Markland

The Barracks, a well-known food strip in Cebu City’s Carbon Market complex, officially ceased operations on June 30 to make way for the construction of the new Carbon Main Public Market.


The closure was announced through a Facebook post by Carbon Market Cebu, which thanked the public for its support and confirmed that vendors are expected to reopen at Pusô Village, a new food and retail space in the area.

Known for its curated stalls, casual setup, and affordable options, The Barracks had become a popular destination for students from nearby universities, many of whom expressed surprise over its sudden closure on social media.

“I only heard about the news a day before the closure from someone I’m seeing,” said Kyle Dagatan, a Cebuano student now studying in Batangas.

“It was very recent news to me—and probably to other students too, based on what they’ve been posting online,” he added.

Dagatan said he often visited The Barracks with friends and recalled his last visit earlier this year, when he shared a meal with his date before heading back to Batangas.

“[The] Barracks always had a wide variety of inexpensive food choices. The loud noises of commerce and the chatter of students always had a different vibe as well, so the place always felt lively,” he said.

Opened in 2023, The Barracks was part of the Carbon Market modernization project led by Cebu2World, a Megawide subsidiary, in partnership with the Cebu City Government.

Before The Barracks

Prior to becoming The Barracks, the space was part of Warwick Barracks, a local market zone with long-time vendors selling dried fish, household goods, flowers, and woven products.

Over 80 stalls in Warwick and nearby Freedom Park were demolished during the first phase of the redevelopment project in July 2022, prompting tensions between displaced vendors and the city government.

In December 2024, the Cebu City Council approved the site’s reclassification from institutional to commercial use, paving the way for the construction of a multi-storey public market building.

Despite this, vendors occupying outside the area remain hopeful that newly elected Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival—who had previously voiced opposition to the project—will reconsider the current redevelopment plans and push to reverse the zoning decision in favor of preserving more public and vendor-oriented spaces.