JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Throughout the month of May, News4JAX is celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage.
News4JAX anchor Aaron Farrar shows us how the relatively new Asian Night Markets are bringing the AAPI community together.
Twice a month, small Asian-owned businesses get together to share their culture with Jacksonville.
On the second Friday and Saturday of each month, the night market takes place at RD International Market at 7534 Beach Blvd. on the Southside.
On the last Friday and Saturday of every month, the night market happens at Asian Square Supermarket at 5801 Normandy Blvd. on the Westside.
After a year of the twice-monthly markets, the events continue to sizzle with plenty of food, drinks and fun.
Madeline and Vu Nguyen are the co-creators of the markets.
“From Thailand to Filipino to Vietnamese to Cambodian, Japanese, Korean. All Asian food,” Madeline said of what is offered at either market.
With such a variety of Asian cultures available locally, the couple wanted a chance for Jacksonville to get a taste of them all easily, which is why the markets are held on opposite sides of town.
“We see that there is an opportunity and need for the growing Asian community,” Madeline said. “[Many people] really want Asian food in the greater population. There is an interest in Asian food. We started so we can give something unique to the Jacksonville area.”
Vu admitted that it took a bit to get the markets off the ground.
“At first, we came out and it was a little bit hard,” Vu said. “We did not have anybody to sign up to sell food for us because we were so new. So, we got some friends and family, and we put down a lot of work. We cooked a lot of food.”
Now, a variety of small businesses come out to sell their food at the markets. The Nguyens say each shop has to register, then go through a state inspection process before they can set up to sell.
The Nguyens say they can see anywhere between 500 to 1,000 people at the markets.
Jason Cueva stopped by one of the markets for the first time earlier this month. He said he really enjoyed trying pork on a stick, sticky and mango rice.
“It is really cool because it brings a lot of stuff that you will not see all the time all into one place,” Cueva said. “You get to kind of pig out a little bit and have some fun while you are trying some different things that you never get to try at other places. It is all fresh. It is really cool.”
Madeline and Vu said that’s the reaction they were hoping for from the community when they opened the markets last year.
“This is something that we want to create for the community,” Madeline said. “To bring the community together to bridge the culture gap and do something that Jacksonville residents can enjoy and get together on the weekend.”
Vu said it’s about more than just the food.
“We are trying to bring the community out,” Vu said. “Bring the people out, bring the community out together, and hopefully everybody can enjoy all of the culture.”
The Nguyens say they want to expand and would love to see even more people involved.
They say they are open to hearing feedback on social media, including the market’s Facebook page.
That is also the way the Nguyens say vendors who are interested in selling food at either market can reach out to them. Or they can call 904-694-6100.
