Saluhallen Lilla Torg
in Malmö

in Swedish

The current Saluhallen isn’t that old—it was established around 1980. This building was once known as the “Litografen,” home to Skånes Lithographic Printworks. These eventually merged into Sweden’s Lithographic Printworks, SLT, which was renamed the more familiar Esselte.

The original Saluhallen spanned the entire square. Around 1900, the square was cleared of all its small buildings, and a magnificent market hall was raised in 1903. For half a century, Malmö’s residents shopped for meat, fish, cheese, fruit, flowers, and more under one roof.

The age of the market halls was short-lived. Malmö had three: at Lilla Torg, Drottningtorget (today a Boule bar), and Södra Saluhallen on Föreningsgatan (now a Netto supermarket). All disappeared in the 1960s, as department stores took over downtown commerce. In its final years, Wiklunds Bil sold Citroën, Rover, Packard, and Bentley cars from Lilla Torg Saluhallen.

A Square—Again

By the mid-1960s, the decision was made to restore Lilla Torg as a true town square. In hindsight, it was a bit misguided, as squares had lost their function as primary marketplaces—nowadays we buy food at supermarkets and shop indoors. Even public meetings have shifted to congress halls and other warm, dry venues. We’re a bit less hardy—less like the Vikings we once were.

The square was given a traditional stone paving, and in 1973 a beautiful fountain (IDstory) by sculptor Ture Törn was installed. The fountain’s reliefs recount stories of trade through the ages. The square became postcard-pretty, but lacked a clear purpose. There were already a few restaurants and cafés—Gourmet, Piccolo Mondo, Café Dockhuset, and Viktors—but it wasn’t until the late 1990s that the area truly came alive.

Outdoor Life

Viktors was the first to put the square space to good use. The owners, who had previously run a restaurant at Möllevångstorget, saw potential here, building a “deck” in front of the Blue House for an outdoor dining area. It was hugely popular, though not without practical difficulties: the café was set far from the actual restaurant, and a busy bus route cut through the square. Every negotiation with the bus company ended with the conclusion it was too costly to reroute buses.

It took a few years, with the city experimenting with closing the square to traffic during summer months. Finally, the square became car-free all year, sparking the explosion of restaurants and cafés seen today.

By the late 1500s, Stortorget had grown cramped, and commerce needed more space for stalls, craftspeople, and eateries.

Business and beer began at the new Lilla Torg as early as 1592. By the 1700s, seven taverns surrounded the square. Today’s food is surely more varied—and guests are warmed by more than 200 gas heaters.

Stortorget was established around 1540, when Mayor Jörgen Kock ordered the demolition of the old Helgeand Monastery and several other houses to create a vast square in the heart of Malmö. Despite its size, it soon proved too small; Malmö was Denmark’s second biggest city and a hub for trade.

Another square was needed, so an empty lot was chosen between Stortorget and the southern marshes. At that time, Malmö was completely surrounded by water—so-called Rörsjöarna. On this wasteland, Lilla Torg was founded in 1592.

Around the square, stalls were built: butchers to the west, bakers to the south, grocers (“hökare”—an old term) to the north, and fishmongers to the east. In the 1700s, the little moveable stalls were replaced with more permanent small houses, hosting shops, workshops, and humble cafés.

Taverns

All those market visitors naturally needed food—small taverns sprang up in the houses around the square. By the 1700s, there were seven. These were very simple places, serving soup and stews at modest prices.

One eatery here passed into legend as “Kalopsenborg”. The menu surely wasn’t extensive—though even boiled eel was available!

Referenser

• About BiBB, a media company and an encyclopedia 4.0
• Text: Christian Kindblad |

Published: 2007.06 Uppdated: 2025.09.11

Kategorier 25 Platser och Offentliga rum 20 Malmö 44

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