Diane Powers, owner of Bazaar del Mundo in Old Town

While still battling in court to retain her popular Bazaar del Mundo in Old Town, Diane Powers is setting her sights on a Nuevo Mundo Downtown. Powers faces the possibility of losing the land and the buildings that currently house the Old Town Bazaar after it was granted in late 2003 to an out-of-state company by the state Department of Parks and Recreation, which has leased the property to Powers since 1971.

Drawing an estimated 6 million visitors a year, and serving tourists and locals alike, the Old Town Bazaar has become the most successful concession in the state parks system and the third largest woman-owned business in San Diego.

In 2005, Powers is making plans to install another bazaar at the former police headquarters Downtown.

“San Diegans have surely encouraged us with their support and love of the Bazaar del Mundo, which we hope will remain in Old Town,” she says. “We are also developing a new ‘mini’ Mercado of stylish boutique shops on Taylor Street in Old Town next to our Casa Guadalajara restaurant. Fast planning and development will also hopefully lead to our opening a second magnificent Bazaar del Mundo at the Embarcadero in the old police headquarters.”