The San Francisco Sunset Night Market is coming to an end, at least temporarily.
Organizers said that when the market returns, it is likely to look a bit different. Business owners said they hope it does come with some changes.
“I do like the night market because it brought new business to our small business and brings a lot of people to come out to Sunset,” said Jennifer Leung of Pineapple King Bakery.
The market, which started in 2023, was an instant hit for a normally sleepy part of the city.
“When we started it, we really hadn’t seen anything like it in recent memory,” said Supervisor Joel Engardio. “In San Francisco, 10,000 people came out. There was pent-up demand, and we ran out of food, it wasn’t big enough, so we thought, ‘Wow, we need to do more.’ So then we doubled the size, and then 20,000 people showed up, so like how much bigger can it get. So in some ways, it became too big.”
Engardio added that the market was possible, but that supervisors need to take a closer look at what works for the neighborhood.
The market will not take place for the remainder of summer or the fall, but there are hopes there will be something in the right size and fit for the community.
“So we need to dial it back and make it more? Maybe, make it not as big or do it more often? Or move it around to different parts of the Sunset? Those are all the questions that we will address,” Engardio said.
Organizers said they weren’t reimbursed by the city until months after the last market was held and didn’t feel confident planning another until they were fully reimbursed.
The city said there were also some challenges related to paperwork deadlines and staffing issues.
The Office of Economic and Workforce Development said, “conversation about a future activation are ongoing and we’re excited to support an event that champions local businesses and celebrates API cultures.”
Kal Zak works at Lucca Food Deli and said the night markets are a welcome addition, but as a food vendor, they’d like to see a few changes.
“It’s amazing, people are instead of being home, they’re out walking around it’s about the neighborhood,” Zak said. “All we are asking for is more conscious placement of the vendors have them be toward the very end of a section where all the food people there, so they walk through the business here toward the food in the end and have options.”
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