The International District Harvest Market celebrated its grand opening recently, ready to be used for micro-businesses, community events and fairs.
“This is about access,” Albuquerque mayor Tim Keller said during a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by representatives of the International District Economic Development Center. “By activating this space, we are opening it to community use to generate more positive activity in the neighborhood. This is day one of a new public space where the community can gather, feel connected, feel safe, and put on programming.”
The Harvest Market is the first action in revitalizing an empty lot at Kathryn and San Mateo. The Albuquerque Community Safety Department plans to make its headquarters there in the future. The space will also be used for other economic development endeavors, including small business vendors looking to promote their businesses.
"The Harvest Market is a market where there’s actually infrastructure for our vendors," Alex Horton, executive director for the International District Economic Development Center told KOB. "There’s electrical outlets, 220 outlets for our vendors to plug in, set up. So, we’re taking anywhere from someone that sells leather goods to food trucks to come here and set up."
Food trucks fed meals to visitors at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
