The Portland Mercado on Southeast Foster Road is quiet these days as business owners prepare for the rebuilding. Four food carts are currently open, down from twice as many as there were before, and they will close at the end of March to make room for construction. The Portland Mercado, a hub for Latin American food and entertainment, opened in 2015. It is a public marketplace inspired by Latino culture.
Following the fire that destroyed the main building in January 2024, Hacienda CDC, a nonprofit providing services and support for Latino small business owners, is moving forward with plans to rebuild the Portland Mercado. This should begin within the next few months, depending on the city of Portland and the permitting process.
On Jan. 3, 2024, a fire ripped through the Portland Mercado, destroying a dining area, Xŏcotl juice bar, Barrio bar and a commissary kitchen. The adjacent food carts with propane tanks were spared as Portland firefighters took control of the blaze. By the end of January 2024, the community rallied around the beloved gathering place. It raised over $250,000 in the Portland Mercado Fire Relief Fund to help the small business owners impacted by the fire.
Looking ahead
Vanesa Mendoza-Cruz is the chief of staff to Hacienda CDC CEO Ernesto Fonseca. Mendoza-Cruz spoke to Street Roots about plans for the Portland Mercado.
“We are currently awaiting final permit approval and anticipate that construction will begin in late April/early May,” Mendoza-Cruz said. “Mercado 2.0 will feature an upstairs, covered, heated patio and an additional bar. In the second phase of the renovation, the Canopy, which is the outdoor covered space where food carts are located, will be completely remodeled, bringing a refreshed and enhanced Mercado experience.”
Food cart vendors who relocated during construction have been invited to reapply for their spots at the Mercado. Mendoza-Cruz said Hacienda CDC remains hopeful that many will return once the project is completed.
“We are thrilled to welcome all to the newly revitalized Mercado,” Mendoza-Cruz said. “This vibrant space is not only a hub for community connection but also a place to champion and support our vendors as they embark on this exciting new chapter. We foresee the Mercado reopening in early spring of 2026.”
Donor inspiration
Fundraising is underway to rebuild the Portland Mercado. Large grants and donations have come in from organizations, and individuals have also contributed to the funds.
Last fall, the Oregon Community Foundation, or OCF, donated $250,000 to the Mercado rebuilding fund. OCF president and CEO Lisa Mensah commented on the fundraising for the new Mercado.
“OCF supports the rebuilding of the Portland Mercado because we recognize the cultural and economic importance of this special gathering place to Oregon’s Latino communities,” Mensah said. “Hacienda CDC is making a lasting impact in our region, and we are proud to support them as a longtime nonprofit partner.”
Although Fonseca serves on the board for OCF, he recused himself from voting for this grant.
Another donor, Prosper Portland, is providing the Mercado with a $750,000 grant. Prosper Portland development manager Brian Moore and communications coordinator Yume Delegato spoke to Street Roots about this donation.
“The grant will continue the relationship with Hacienda CDC and Prosper Portland,” Moore said. “We’ve had a long-standing relationship with the Mercado and Hacienda CDC, and we were a key partner in getting it off the ground. Prosper Portland owns the property, and Hacienda owns the building. Looking ahead, it made sense to make an investment in Mercado repairs because we wanted to ensure they get back to operating. We could support small businesses and food trucks. It’s very important and we’re excited to see them rebuilding.”
The Portland Mercado site was part of the Lents Tax Increment Finance district, or TIF. This is changing because the Lents TIF is reaching the end of its lifespan, along with several TIFs that closed last year, leaving those funds no longer available through Prosper Portland.
“One of the primary ways that Prosper Portland reinvests in our city is through TIFs,” Delegato said. “Money is shifting, so we could leverage funds through the grant. It’s an opportunity to provide support in that part of the city.”
Designing and rebuilding
Hacienda CDC is working with Scott Edwards Architecture, the original firm that designed the Mercado. The builders are Summit Reconstruction and Restoration.
Fonseca wanted the new design to include colors representing Latino culture, so he chose bright pink and blue. He had listened to feedback at gatherings over the years and decided that a covered heated area would benefit vendors and customers in the rainy winter months.
Hacienda CDC carries out its mission
Hacienda CDC is a Latino-led community development corporation that provides families with home ownership support, economic advancement and educational opportunities, according to its website. They value empowerment, innovation and commitment.
Hacienda CDC was founded by two women in 1992 who saw a need to improve opportunities in Portland’s Cully neighborhood, which was then home to the largest Latino population in Oregon. Crime, violence and drug dealing were dominating the neighborhood, making it unsafe for children and their families. Clara Padilla Andrews and Maria Rojo de Steffey purchased the Galaxy Apartments in the Cully neighborhood and created Hacienda CDC to serve their community with housing and business support. Their efforts to help small businesses extended to a group of women making tamales and selling them in the Cully neighborhood, Mendoza-Cruz said.
This tradition of community support continues today with Hacienda CDC’s many programs, including youth and family services, small business support and housing opportunities. Small businesses have thrived at the Portland Mercado, and these opportunities are included in plans for the future.
The commissary kitchen, used on a sliding scale with income verification, will make a comeback when construction on Mercado 2.0 is complete. This commercially-licensed kitchen will be accessible to nonprofit organizations and entrepreneurs starting their businesses. The equipment was smoke-damaged and will be cleaned and reevaluated. Some parts needed upgrades and replacing, according to Mendoza-Cruz.
Community members, business owners and donors will be able to enjoy the Mercado when renovations are finished less than a year from now. Anyone interested in donating or tracking progress can check the Portland Mercado website.
Sara Ruzomberka is an associate principal with Scott Edwards Architecture who worked on the project.
“We worked closely with Ernesto Fonseca and Hacienda CDC to refresh the aesthetic of the exterior, which is partly inspired by a Mexican architect, Luis Barrigan,” Ruzomberka said. “Ernesto came with the idea to convert the upper level to a new bar. It will be more earthy, warm and cozy as opposed to the colorful exterior. The added feature is to create a small intimate roof deck off the upper bar. It’s a fun improvement to the space and breathes new life into a space that was so beloved. People are so excited to reopen.”
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This article appears in March 5, 2025.