“We decided to host a grand opening for our new studio with vendors, a market, and from there people just loved it – got really good reception from the community,” Daniel said about how the market began.
As former California residents, Daniel and Ismael were used to festive mercados that feel like a party where you’re hanging out with family and friends.
“Our goal with this is really just to pull our community together. I feel like the Latinx community in Seattle doesn’t really have a lot of representation,” he said.
“There’s definitely lots to do in Seattle, but this is just super important to us because it creates a place for us. We’re definitely not the first to do this, but we’re definitely not the last,” Ismael added.
Andrea Salazar, creator and owner of the high-end textile Piel Canela Studio, set up shop at The 101. It was her first time working with Aquí Mercado.
She grew up in Mexico City and lived there for 20 years. She said her friends would always ask her to bring back clothing and accessories after visiting. This is how her shop started to grow, little by little.
“A couple of years ago, I went to Oaxaca and started getting to know the people and making items, and now we collaborate with them and support each other,” Salazar said. “It’s been a fantastic project to bring my culture all the way to Seattle.”
Maritza Leon, Mexican-American potter and owner of The Introverted Potter, also was excited to collaborate with Aquí Mercado.
Leon began making pottery three years ago during the COVID -19 pandemic as a therapeutic and creative outlet. Like many other Mexican-American market visitors and vendors at the event, she said her art and language is not always understood in the wider Seattle community.
“I was looking forward to Aquí Mercado, because I could put ‘Hay Comida en la Casa,’ and people are gonna be like ‘Yes! That is my mom, that’s my grandma, that’s my dad, whoever.’ It’s so nice to be around people who share and understand your culture,” Leon laughed.
Elsa Alvarado, owner of an accessories shop, Tu Expresión, participated in the market for the third time. She relocated to Seattle from Los Angeles seven years ago, and outside of her imported-goods business, works with young people.
“The whole point is to be bold, be proud,” Alvarado said. “The youth inspired me to do this work and start my little business.”
She says she frequently travels back to Los Angeles and Mexico to collect Latinx-made and inspired goodies for her own children. Her company name, Tu Xpresión, is inspired by the message she wants to send to young people: Be proud of your culture and express yourself – whether it’s through clothing, jewelry or hand bags.
Daniel and Ismael Calderon expressed their gratitude to participants and vendor applicants who helped make the event possible.
“We both could not have done this mercado without our volunteers . . . They’re helping unload, helping put up the beautiful papel picado that’s from Mexico,” Ismael said.
They said they received more than 70 applications for the 30 available spots for the October mercado. “One thing we do try to do is have a really nice flow of curation. Vintage, tarot card readers, hair braiding…to keep a good variety,” Daniel said.
Vendors are required to pay a fee of $95 for 8-foot-by-3-foot middle spots in the venue and $125 for 10-foot spots along the walls, according to the recent application for the next market. Food vendors are required to pay a $160 booth fee, and must have a King County Health Department vendor permit and food-handler card. These vendor fees help Aquí Mercado with expenses of the event, such as paying a DJ.
Daniel and Ismael are looking to go bigger with each event – giving denied applicants the opportunity to participate in the future.
The 101- Pioneer Square was the biggest venue Aquí Mercado has worked with so far. Daniel and Ismael are eager to partner with them again, hosting their Posada Navideña/ Christmas Inn event at The 101 on Dec. 8.
“We really want to provide resources for people – we have people from Yakima, Wenatchee, Tacoma,” said Daniel. “The city can be intimidating sometimes with the logistics of parking and transportation, but it has all pulled together seamlessly.”