38 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • AUGUST 5, 2021 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
buzz
Queens pop-up market protects
unlicensed vendors from hefty fi nes
BY JULIA MORO
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
A local Jackson Heights couple
created a pop-up market aft er
New York state offi cials began
targeting street vendors earlier in
the summer.
Jonathan Andres and his wife
Lisa Suneesa sprung into action
when they found out vendors
were facing heft y fi nes as part of
New York City’s reopening plan.
Back in June, the state issued
$1,000 fi nes to unpermitted
mobile food vendors as part
of New York City’s reopening.
Unlicensed merchandise vendors
faced a fi ne of $250.
“Now that the city is enforcing
ridiculous rules about vending
— and oft entimes unfairly
targeting certain people or
certain areas but not others —
hosting these events has been
a great way for artists to still
make ends meet, all in a space
that’s welcoming and where they
don’t have to worry about being
harassed by law enforcement,”
Andres said.
Andres collaborated with
the Jewish Center in Jackson
Heights in May for their fi rst
pop-up market. In particular,
Andres made sure to showcase
local, women-owned and Black,
Indigenous and other people of
color (BIPOC) vendors.
In their last pop-up market on
Sunday, July 25, they had about
30 vendors. Th e events are open
to the public for free, where they
can shop, explore local businesses
and experience diff erent cultures.
Th ere was also a raffl e to
help the victims of the massive
Jackson Heights fi re that left
more than 200 families displaced
in April. Funds from the raffl e
were given to the GoFundMe
page created for the victims.
Andres said the vendors sell a
variety of goods, from Filipino
mochi cookies to Brooklynbased
graphic artists.
“We have basically every culture,
every type and style of
thing that can be created beautifully,”
Andres said.
Marylen Montanes, 67, sold
her ceramic artwork at the popup
market on Sunday, July 25.
She started making and selling
ceramics when she was a young
woman in Uraguay.
In her late 20s, she brought
her two daughters to America.
As she worked as a chef in New
York City public schools, she
stopped selling her art. It wasn’t
until she recently retired that she
could dedicate more time to her
ceramic work.
“Everyone was really inspired
by the fact that she restarted
this hobby and passion of hers
in retirement,” Montanes’ granddaughter
Chanel Martinez said.
“It’s been over 35 years since she’s
sold her art and she was touched
by how encouraging and supportive
people were.”
Erick Teran from City Prints
also participated in the last popup
market. As a Jackson Heights
resident and son of immigrants,
Teran was extremely happy to be
a part of the pop-up market.
“I feel like City Prints relates
to what I imagine my parents
feeling when they saw the skyline
and they see NYC as this
manifestation of dreams and
opportunity,” Teran said. “City
Prints really fi ts in well with the
other vendors at these pop-up
markets.”
Th e next pop-up market will
be held on Aug. 15 at the Jewish
Center in Jackson Heights.
Aft er that, Andres and his wife
will be stepping back from the
market since they are moving
out of New York.
“We’re hoping that we’re laying
out a good foundation for another
organization in the neighborhood
to take it and continue
this,” Andres said. “So many people
come and everyone has really
enjoyed it.”
Andres said hundreds of people
come out to the pop-up
markets and many community
members tell him that a diverse
group that creates a safe place for
vendors is exactly what Jackson
Heights needed.
“Th ere isn’t anything like this
here in Queens,” Andres said. “If
New York is the melting pot of the
world, I would take it a step further
and say Queens is the heart of
that melting pot. Th ere’s so much
diversity in the neighborhoods
that the 7 train runs through.”
For more information on future
events, visit the pop-up market
Instagram page @onenycshop.
Photo courtesy of Manuela Agudelo
Raffl e that donated proceeds to the victims of the Jackson Heights fi re in
March.
Photo courtesy of KALEIDOSPACE
KALEIDOSPACE sells tote bags designed by Queens artists of Latin American backgrounds.
Photo courtesy of Chanel Martinez
Marylen Montanes selling her ceramic art at the Queens pop-up market.
link
/WWW.QNS.COM
link
