The Bronx Night Market will permanently shut down this month after serving up a variety of cuisines to the community for the past seven years.
Marco Shalma, who created the event in 2017 to help small businesses grow, said illegal vendors, dangerous conditions and a lack of sponsorships contributed to the market’s demise.
“The last event that we’ve done, we were overrun by illegal nutcrackers, illegal alcohol sales, and we weren’t able to get any barricades, so we felt exposed,” Shalma told News 12 The Bronx.
“This difficult decision comes from various factors, including concerns for the safety of its dedicated team and valued vendors, challenges in garnering substantial support from the community, and the inability to secure necessary sponsorships for Bronx-based experiences,” event organizers wrote in a statement, published in the Bronx Times.
Shalma also said the deterioration of Fordham Plaza – where the event is held once a month between May and October – was also a factor in his decision to permanently end the food event.
He said he has had to clean up human feces in the area and suffered abuse from locals.
“The community and the city must address the plaza as it has become dangerous. This setting has impacted the overall attendee experience and the safety and well-being of our dedicated team and cherished vendors,” the statement read.
In addition, the market was unable to recruit crucial sponsors as the borough is grappling with a rising crime rate.
Violent crime is up nearly 7% this year, with felony assault up 10.3% in the Bronx, according to NYPD statistics. Crimes across all five boroughs is down 0.5%.
The market, a staple in the community, was home to more than 50 vendors that featured food from 20 countries.
Shalma said it was a “heavy” decision to shutter the open-air market, which will throw one last celebration later this month.
“While the decision to conclude our presence in the Bronx is difficult, we remain committed to celebrating the spirit of the Bronx Night Market as vibrantly and unforgettably as possible,” Shalma told the Bronx Times.
“We have always strived to deliver an exceptional experience to our attendees, and our final events will be no exception.”
The last market will be held from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Oct. 28.
