As towns were being formed through history, there were two ways of commerce that came into being: commerce on the places determined beforehand (markets), and, sometimes, on temporary locations (fairs).
The first such commerce was recorded within the antique town gates - the fortification called Naissus. During the Turkish reign, the market trade was done in front of the fortress gates, whereas some time later it was moved to the center of the town, and that was where it remained until the Second World War.

There was a Turkish law, a very famous one at this time, called “kanun”. It regulated market and other duties and taxes, such as production and excise tax in the city and on the markets. It was passed in 1498, saying: “Two aspras (type of coin) are to be taken per a horse cargo of food, eight aspras per a wagonful of cargo, two aspras per a sold slave or a horse, one aspra per two sheep, etc. During fairs (“panadjurs”) it is to be charged twice as much.”

A market day in Nis, colour photo from 1904

The market fee was taken in the open places, markets, where the goods was sold. It was 2.5% the value of the goods. The fee was paid per unit (horse or wagon cargo, sack, saddlebag, bundle, basket, wineskin, etc.) During the “panadjurs” double this fee was paid.

The “panadjur” of Nis has been held on 9, September, on the day of St Pantelejmon, since the 15th century, in the duration of three days. It has been held in the part of Nis called Pantelej, where Central European “panadjurs” are thought to have been held. Before the 17th century the “panadjur” of Nis was mostly of local significance, whereas later it got greater importance, being one of the most important fairs on the Balkans. The “panadjur” (fair) is traditionally held even today.

Before the liberation from the Turkish reign, fairs became an important way of the exchange of goods. After the liberation, two fairs were settled: the summer fair, held on the Ascention Day, which lasted for six days, and the one on the Holy Cross Day, in the duration of three days. Due to the agrarian characteristic of economy at the time, these were mainly livestock fairs. Besides, the sale of goods was better on the Ascention Day. This way of exchange of goods was preserved between the two World Wars as well. However, the changes that occurred after the Second World War, such as an organized purchase of agricultural goods, migration of people from villages to towns, reduction of livestock funds, etc, disparaged the importance of the fairs. Therefore, they were held more because of the tradition than because of real needs.

 
The main market on King Milan Square, a postcard from 1923

Between the two World Wars there were a few locations for the market trade in the town. An interesting fact is that, at that time, the market fee was charged at the entrance of the town. At the eastern entrance the fee was charged on today’s intersection of Nemanjica, Emperor Constantine and Zorana Djindjica boulevards, at the western entrance - in the part called Bubanj, at the northern – in the part called Jagodin Mala, etc.
After the Second World War, the organization of the market trade fell under the jurisdiction of and is within the scope of the city, i.e township organs.

On March 31, 1952 (or, according to some data, on March 28, 1952), a self-financed institution was founded by the decision of the City Hall, called the Market Administrative Department of Nis. At the same time the mayor Ivan Vuckovic appoints Ljubomir Simonovic the first director. While creating the Market Administrative Department, the founder defined the activity that would be done as: market tax and measure fee (compensation for market services) collection. In the Market Administrative Department there were 11 employees in total, and they were the following: the director Simonović Ljubomir, the chief of the accounting department Savić Sreten, the treasurer Živković Bratislav, the administrator uncle Ljuba, the messenger Marković Milorad, the controller Živković Krsta, and the payment collectors Milić Radovanović, Radulović Dragoljub, Jovanović Bogoljub and Rinčić Dobrivoje.

The activities of the Market Administrative Department of that time were performed on 1800m2 area of former green market for general purpose, which used to be in front of today’s City Hall to the tavern “Stara Srbija” (Nikola Pasic Square). This, so-called green market, was in function on this location even before the Second World War. Beside this market there was also a livestock market in the part called “Stocni trg”, which was in the beginning on the location of today’s “Ogrevinvest”, i.e. the merchandise market called OTC (open trade centre) in 1957, and later on the location of the Veterinarian Institute, the playground, and near PCE Mediana in 1962, in the area of about 3000m2. In the beginning, this market provided inter-village sales, and with the development of the town, the sales of ordinary cattle, whose buyers were mainly the inhabitants of Nis, grew. The livestock market stopped working on this location in 1972, whereas the livestock market near the village Mramor (on the left bank of the river South Morava) started developing rapidly and was in the jurisdiction of the local community Mramor.

After the Second World War the market Tvrdjava was opened in the area between the main gate of the fortress of Nis and the bus station, using the facilities of military warehouses (today’s warehouse of agricultural products and workshops). The market was called City Market Tvrdjava. Soon afterwards, in 1955, the market Pirotska Rampa was opened, known as the Morava Market. The market was there until 1970, when it was moved to a new location and called Bubanj Market.
In 1955, on the location of today’s Radnickih Saveta Square, i.e. Zoran Djindjic Square, the Market called “Crveni Pevac“ was opened. However, this market was in function for a very short period, and very soon it stopped working.

By the decision of the Workers’ Council of the Market Administrative Department, Nis, the name of the organization was changed into “Institution for Market Trade Organization - Trznica Nis” in 1969. The institution was considered a legal entity; besides, it had its primary and secondary duties pre-determined.
After this, there was a period of rapid development of Trznica, both in organization and construction of the markets in the city. Trznica bought the city land from the owner himself and made all the project documentation for the construction of the market places. In this way, new market places came into being: Krive Livade (Bosko Buha) in 1970, which was first a market plateau, and then – the second stage of a closed market in 1982; Bubanj, the first stage in 1973; Palilula market; Pantelej market, the plateau, the market building, infrastructure – all in 1977; Durlan market (Mose Pijade) in 1977; Cele Kula market, with the plateau, the market building with the plumbing and infrastructure in 1977. Since 1977 Trznica organized an agricultural exhibition on the market Tvrdjava under the patronage of the city of Nis. The exhibition was held as a part of a celebration of the Liberation Day of Nis, and it was traditionally held until 1982.
In March, 1982 this institution changed its name into RO “Trznica”, Nis –Retail of Food and Agricultural Products and Market Trade Organization “Trznica”, Nis.
In 1991, Trznica changed its status into Public Enterprise, with the township as the founder, and changed its name into Public Enterprise for Market Services “Trznica”, Nis. Its obligations presumed market construction, maintenance and administration, as well as performing other activities in accordance with the act of the founder. It functioned under this name until 1995. Public Enterprise for Market Services “Trznica”, Nis was founded with the aim to ensure regular sale of goods on the markets and perform activities of public interest. Trznica was performing these activities on nine green and mixed markets and a livestock market in Mramor.

In this period the management of the enterprise planned and started putting its plans into practice as far as market construction and restoration was concerned. They started constructing a merchandise market (“Cvetna” Market with 100 booths and 28 shops); on a parking place Mediana they were given the land, where they organized Mediana - a merchandise market in the autumn, 1996 (it was a flea market with 400 booths); they constructed a new closed mixed market Durlan (100 booths) on the land of the market having the same name, reconstructed the market Tvrdjava (built the eaves, 100 shops), constructed business and administration facility, 30 shops on the market Krive Livade, etc.
The Town Hall of Nis transformed this enterprise into Communal in August, 1997, and since then it has been working as Public Communal Enterprise for Market Services Trznica, Nis.
The same year Trznica lost its right over running the livestock market.

Trznica continued putting the existing plans into practice, so that a new merchandise market was opened, as well as a market for second-hand goods on the location of Ogrevinvest, the market called OTC (open trade centre) with over 800 booths, i.e. there was a shift of the flea market from Mediana in January, 1998. The same year a wholesale market was opened, as well as a used-car market, called Wholesale market Mediana. In May, 1999, a new merchandise market was opened under the name “Cvetna” market. During the bombing of Serbia by the NATO alliance, the market Tvrdjava was hit. The eaves on the market, as well as window glass of the dairy hall were damaged by the cassette bombs. Fortunately, there were no human losses on the market itself, but 18 people died that day in the streets around the market.

In 2002 the enterprise invested in enlargement further building of the market Krive Livade for about 800m2. In the beginning of 2003 they opened the first closed market in the city, the Trade Center Durlan.

Directors of Trznica: