<p>Open markets occupy a strategic position, providing products that customers need daily, despite being characterised by informality. There is a dearth of empirical research reporting explicitly on the confluence of merchandise characteristics and market interactions. The study therefore analyzed merchandise and market interactions at the Mtapa Open Market in Gweru, Zimbabwe. A descriptive case study design, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative research methods, was employed. Microsoft Excel and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) were used for data analysis. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The findings indicated that the Mtapa Open Market’s demographic characteristics provide a significant context for understanding the market dynamics. The diversified range of goods reflects that the formal sector has been informalized where almost everything that used to be a preserve of the formal sector is now visible at the informal market. Invisible goods are abundant at the market and the most sold items include illicit drugs and alcohol, presenting a paradox, especially considering its adjacency to a Police Station. Most traders illegally facilitate the flow of prohibited second-hand and new clothing from neighbouring countries to earn a living in the struggling economy. The study recommended that applying the principles of the Functionality Theory in the market can improve market operations. Improving the connectivity of the transportation lines that connect market activity zones aids their functionality. Formalizing supply chains when sourcing goods&#xa0;improves revenue, quality control and accountability, which benefits responsible authorities and traders.</p>