PORTLAND, Ore. — Food carts at the Portland Mercado reopened their doors on Friday, Jan. 26, more than three weeks after a devastating fire forced small businesses at the site to shut down.
The food cart pod, located near Southeast Foster Road and Southeast 72nd Avenue, announced the news on their Instagram on Wednesday. They said a food inspector gave the "green light" to continue operations, but for now, they will be take-out only since the seating area is still under repair from the fire that destroyed it and the bar area.
The Portland Mercado Fire Relief Fund will close on Tuesday, Jan. 30. All the money will go towards rebuilding damages from the fire which tore through the site on Wednesday, Jan. 3rd.
Since its creation in 2015, The Portland Mercado has been a hub for Latino culture. It's an initiative of Hacienda CDC which provides affordable retail space for businesses to launch and grow. They feature a multitude of cuisines from around the world, including Mexico, Colombia, and Cuba.
A full list of participating food carts can be found on the Portland Mercado website.
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