It was a tasty and rewarding if time-consuming job, but someone had to do it.
In anticipation of the launch of the Prescott Night Markets, a series of once-a-month evening events with food vendors, live music and entertainment in West Oakland, Harvindar “Harv” Singh and his partner at Foragers Market, Justin Johal, scoured the Bay for a diverse and delicious selection of pop-ups and food trucks.
“We went all over trying different foods, we ate up a storm,” Singh said. “We loved meeting the people behind the food as much as we loved the food. We very intentionally looked for small food makers, some who are still relatively unknown but deserve attention.”
The Night Markets will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. June 6, July 11, August 15, September 5 and October 3 at 1620 18th St., with the first three coinciding with Oakland Ballers home games, which are played at the redeveloped Raimondi Park across the street from the market.
Almanac Brewing, announced last week as an anchor tenant at the forthcoming Prescott Market food hall, will run a beer garden at the center of the event.
Foragers Market runs the West Oakland Farmers Market on Sundays, and so they also invited several of the regulars at that event, including Woo Can Cook, which will be one of the vendors at the Prescott Market food hall.
The family-friendly events will also include Cuban sandwiches from Clandestina Cocina, smash burgers from Fast Times Burgers, and wood-fired pizzas from Mozzeria. Lev Delany of Delany’s Meats will be doing a pig roast and the couple behind the Mexican fusion food truck COOL!NARIA, Alberto Avramow Pitman and Elizabeth Rueda, will be debuting a new concept, PAPAS•ITO, loaded baked potatoes with a Mexican twist. There will also be sweet treats from Donut Petit, Piece Out Cakeshop, De La Creamery and more. (Not all vendors are signed up for every Night Market date. See a full list of the vendors and the dates they will be in attendance below.)
“There’s an international flair,” Singh said. “There will be Argentine empanadas, Indonesian food, Cambodian food, Hawaiian-inspired small bites, Taiwanese food … a lot of different cuisines represented.”
Proyecto Diaz, which opened its first dedicated cafe at 1416 20th St. in West Oakland in January, will also be participating in the Night Markets, serving nitro cold brew, sparkling limeade, and Tijuana Tonic (coffee, lime juice and Topo Chico).
“We’re super excited to be a part of the night market and the efforts to make West Oakland shine,” said Fernando Diaz, Proyecto Diaz’s founder. “As residents and business owners in West Oakland, we hope the night market allows other Oakland residents to see all that’s being done to rebuild and revitalize the neighborhood.”
Dominic Prado of Tacos El Ultimo Baile will be serving smoked brisket tacos and other northern Mexican fare.
“I felt it was important to lend my support towards any efforts to bring positive energy to Oakland,” Prado said. “I recognize the work they are doing in the area and commend them for investing when others would rather write Oakland off.”
In addition to the beer garden and food vendors, the Night Markets will include live music and the Bandloop Dance Company will also perform in their space at 1601 18th St. For June 6, Fat Love Band will be performing and on July 11 Terga Band will take the stage.
“The response has been very positive,” Singh said, referring to the Night Market and the collection of projects led by Joe Ernst of srmERNST Development Partners, which include the West Oakland Farmers Market, the Prescott Market food hall and the redevelopment of other old commercial and industrial buildings in the area.
“People are curious and excited to be part of the change in West Oakland. For years this area has been neglected. Huge props to the Ballers to come to this neighborhood and join in this, the beautification of this neighborhood.”
Singh added that Matt Horn’s chicken sandwich shop Kowbird is adjacent to the live music stage, and will be open during the Night Markets. There is still space for more food vendors and applications to participate remain open.
“There will be a lot of choices and we hope to have a huge draw with the Ballers also playing home games the first three events,” Singh said. “We hope to create a wonderful synergy with baseball goers, market goers and beer lovers.”
The night markets are supported by a grant from Activate Oakland, and Singh said that the plan is to hold the events every year moving forward during the warmer, drier months.
“We want to develop the night market for many years,” Singh said. “The goal is to keep the farmers market on Sundays and the Night Markets humming every year. The more activations we do, the better for the community.”
Prescott Night Market Food Vendors
All Pau Berkeley — July 11, Aug. 15, Sept. 5, Oct. 3
Almanac Brewery — All dates
Al Pastor Papi — June 6
Bayside Fresh Juices — July 11, Aug. 15, Sept. 5, Oct. 3
Black Forest Kitchen — All dates
Clandestina Cocina — All dates
Cookie Chachi — All dates
COOL!NARIA — All dates
De La Creamery — All dates
Delany’s Meats — All dates
D’Grobak — July 11, Aug. 15
Donut Petit — June 6, July 11, Aug. 15
Fast Times Burgers — All dates
Here and There Oakland — All dates
Javi’s Cooking — All dates
Mangosay — July 11, Aug. 15, Oct. 3
Mozzeria — June 6, July 11
Nice & Short — July 11, Aug. 15, Sept. 5, Oct. 3
Piece Out Cakeshop — July 11, Aug. 15, Sept. 5, Oct. 3
pineappleWHIPS — July 11, Aug. 15, Sept. 5, Oct. 3
Proyecto Diaz — June 6, July 11, Aug. 15
Sithas Khmer Foods — All dates
Tacos El Ultimo Baile — All dates
Town Frites — July 11, Aug. 15, Sept. 5, Oct. 3
Woo Can Cook — All dates
Note: More vendors may be added at a later date.
