Queens Night Market, Photo by Storm Garner
While the price of food continues to increase at grocery stores and restaurants, one market in New York City is keeping consumer costs low. When the Queens Night Market opens for its eighth season this April, the open-air food market will maintain its popular price cap of $5 or $6 on all food items. Vendors will be able to stay affordable this year because of a sponsorship from Citizens bank, according to John Wang, the founder of the Queens Night Market.
“With so many food events happening throughout this city at any given time, it’s probably hard to differentiate one from another. But we still believe that affordability is the single greatest equalizer, which is why we’ve been obsessively focused on it from day one,” Wang said in a press release.
“With the cost inflation that food vendors are facing, the only way we were able to economically justify not raising the price cap this year is because Citizens stepped up to the plate in a big, big way, subsidizing the fees vendors would normally pay. We’re incredibly, ineffably grateful for the support.”
Since 2015, the market, which takes place on Saturday nights in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, has been able to put the diversity of the World’s Borough on full display, offering cuisines sold by vendors from more than 90 countries. In 2022, the event had more than 15,000 visitors every Saturday.
The market will open for the 2023 season on April 15, with the first two dates part of a “sneak peek” event to alleviate traffic and crowds. Admission to the remaining dates will be free.
This year, vendors will sell Burmese palatas, Singaporean mee pok and chai tow kway, Colombian arepas, Romanian-Hungarian chimney cakes, Hong Kongese soy sauce noodles, Persian crispy rice, Indian tandoori BBQ, Cambodian fish amok, Jamaican jerk chicken, and so much more.
Support from Citizens means the $5 and $6 price cap on all food items will continue this season. Vendor fees for food and merchandise vendors will also be reduced this year.
“As part of the Queens community, Citizens is proud to support small businesses, our neighbors and visitors, all of whom have made the Queens Night Market a symbol of resilience and growth in New York,” Nuno Dos Santos, retail banking director at Citizens, said. “The partnership between Citizens and the Queens Night Market will make this year the best yet by ensuring access and affordability for vendors and guests alike.”
The market is still accepting vendor applications for the upcoming season. Vendors interested in participating can apply online here.
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