Residents and expats have said they worry prices may increase following a 45-day renovation at the popular Sanyuanli vegetable market in Chaoyang district.

The market, which is patronized by local residents, expats and chefs because of its wide range of products, closed on Monday.

"The fire-fighting and other equipment does not meet the standards anymore, so in order to provide a comfortable, safe and sanitary shopping environment for shoppers and vendors, we decided to renovate the market from April 8 and expect to open again on May 23," read a notice by the management office of Sanyuanli market at the gate of the market.

The notice was put up in March.

Sanyuanli market, located at the corner of the Northeast Third Ring Road, is well-regarded in Beijing as one of the few places to source more unusual fruit and vegetables, as well as selling  other staple foods, such as seafood, meat, cheese and dried goods. The prices can be cheaper than at comparable grocery stores in the capital.

At midday Thursday, two vendors were waiting at the gate, with fruit that had been ordered by customers the previous day.

"Now we sell things outside the market, along the street in the early mornings from 7 to 8 am," a fruit vendor, surnamed Guo, told the Global Times.

"Customers still come and buy stuff. But since we can't bring as many products as we used to have in the market, some customers can't buy what they want. They can order things from us, and we can bring things here the next day, or deliver to their places later the same day," said Guo.

Another vendor surnamed Li, who sells pork and chicken, said his business has declined because of the closure.

"I still deliver chicken to several Japanese restaurants now. But we've lost many individuals who used to come, so my business is not as good as before," he said.

A chef surnamed Wang from Tavola Italian Dining, which is only one bus stop away from the market, said that although the closure does not cause any inconvenience for his restaurant, he worries that the prices will go up as it resumes business after renovation.

"If the price gets too high and unacceptable for me, maybe I will choose other places to buy food; if it's acceptable, I will continue buying food there," he said.

Wang said his restaurant usually bought 1,000 yuan ($161) worth of special vegetables like perilla leaf, rosemary, thyme, mint, and other ordinary vegetables from the market every day.

Maggie Moore, an English teacher from New Zealand who has been shopping regularly at Sanyaunli market for five years, said that she likes it because there are some fruit and vegetables that are only available there, like beetroot, zucchini, swede and parsnips.

"I go there because I can find everything under one roof," said Moore.

She said that it is inevitable that prices will rise.

"Anytime there's a renovation somebody's paying, and if stallholders' rent will go up, somebody will have to pay. They'll pass it on to their customers. It happens everywhere in the world. It's not anything special. It's already an expensive market because all the foreigners and chefs go there," she said.

Karen Miranda, 28, an American who lives in Chaoyang district, said she shops there when she is having a party or doing a big dinner.

"I could leave Sanyuanli with two huge, heavy bags full of seasonal and off-season fruits and veggies and great cheese for one third of what it would cost at April Gourmet and Jenny Lou's," she said.

She said she is "bummed" that the market is closing for a bit, but hopes they will be able to sort out the smell.

"In the summer, it can get stomach-turning and painful around the fresh meats," she said.

"A face-lift wouldn't be the worst thing to happen to that place, but I really hope it doesn't mean prices go up," she said.