The tamale sellers used to be a familiar sight in New Mexico towns with their large lard pail filled with tamales in corn shucks kept moist and warm with towels. They were much patronized by the shopkeepers and workers in town. Often the sellers were old men, grandfathers, etc., who no longer could do physical labor.
They still are found in La Paz and the San Jose-San Lucas towns of Baja California; I haven't really looked for them in other parts of Mexico.

At Fiesta time in Santa Fe, posole, chile, etc. are sold from booths in the Plaza, but the health watchdogs have banished the street-sellers, and the old town center has been taken over by tourist-oriented and upscale shops and hotels. The old sense of community is gone.