The Portland Mercado offers fun and good food for the whole family

Portland's thriving public market showcases Latino culture.

Photo courtesy of Portland Mercado

If you're looking for a fun activity this weekend, head on over to the Portland Mercado. Southeast Portland's Latino market has something for everyone: food, shopping, and entertainment.

Developed as an economic development initiative of Hacienda Community Development Corporation, this award-winning business incubator opened in 2010. Located at SE 72nd and Foster, the Portland Mercado provides affordable retail spaces for new and emerging small businesses from the Latino community.

Photo courtesy of Portland Mercado

Developed as part of a grassroots campaign to help local Latino communities, the Portland Mercado was inspired by public markets that are common in other countries around the world that offer entrepreneurship opportunities to the local community. The market offers affordable retails space and a cultural platform for Latino businesses. According to their website:

We built the Portland Mercado because we believe that entrepreneurship will change the world and unite our cultural communities. We believe that small businesses and culture are the cornerstone of a integrated and equitable city... We recognize that food brings people together and we invite you to visit and support the Portland Mercado, where you can experience a Portland-style replication of a trip to Latin America, all while supporting a non-profit that believes that affordable retail space is as important as affordable housing and access to education.

Photo courtesy of Portland Mercado

The Portland Mercado includes sixteen permanent businesses as well as a non-profit commercial kitchen called the "Portland Mercado Commissary". The Commissary helps entrepreneurs in the beginning stages of creating food-related businesses including catering companies and food product sales.

Photo courtesy of Portland Mercado

The permanent businesses on site are varied in both their offerings and their country of inspiration. Notable standouts include:

• Que Bacano, a food cart highlighting the regional cuisine of Colombia
• Fernando's Alegria, a standout burrito cart offering burritos the size of your head
• Ale Cocina, featuring Argentinian sandwiches and Empanaas
• Xocotl, a fabulous stand offering fresh smoothies
• Sandino Coffee Shop, selling traditionally harvested premium coffee

The Portland Mercado offers outdoor seating to visit the many delicious eateries on site. You can bring the family for lunch or dinner and soak up the sounds of Latino music. It's the perfect spot to soak up the last few warm days of summer in Portland.

If you're not in the Many of the carts also offer delivery through the major meal delivery services.

Photo courtesy of Portland Mercado

The Portland Mercado is also known for its fun and authentic cultural events. Although entertainment has been curtailed by the ongoing pandemic, the Portland Mercado team is still offering some scaled down events designed to offer a safe visit.

On September 12th the market will be hosting the 5th annual Brazilian Festival, a free family event that will include live music, performances, traditional food, arts, vendors, and more.

Photo courtesy of Portland Mercado

In addition to the food services part of the Portland Mercado, the market also includes the "Mercado Store". The Mercado Store offers a variety of products from education toys for kids, candies, jewelry, small batch custom drinks, and other great items you can take home to share.

Photo courtesy of Portland Mercado

But the Portland Mercado isn't just a market. It offers business development and incubation services to entrepreneurs and assists with things like learning how to run a business, working with a business advisor, information on food services permits and registrations, and regular "business boot camps".

Business Boot Camp is a six day course taught by local experts who provide information and resources about licensing, insurance, marketing, finance, cash flow, loans, product development, sourcing locally, and other business start-up assistance. The next boot camp starts in October. For more information, check out their webpage.

Photo courtesy of Portland Mercado

The Portland Mercado is generally open from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. every day. Admission to the market is free.

The market is accessible by Tri-Met buses 14 and 17, and parking is available nearby. In compliance with current mandates, all guests of the Portland Mercado must wear a mask on-site at all times.

#portland #oregon #business #food #latino

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