Mark your calendars for the San Fernando Outdoor Market this Saturday, March 27, from 1-6 p.m., where you’ll find artisanal cookies, custom jewelry, handcrafted gifts, 818 apparel, and more.
While you’re at it, mark it for 1-6 p.m. every fourth Saturday of the month — when San Fernando Road will be closed from Brand Boulevard to Maclay Avenue for the outdoor market. Free parking will be available on Celis and Truman streets and, of course, masks are required.
This event was spearheaded by Joelene Medina and Christina Bernal, who both run businesses in Downtown San Fernando and are part of the Downtown San Fernando Mall Association.
Medina was adamant that they couldn’t have done it alone.
“Within the mall association is a hardworking group of other local business owners,†she said.
The first-ever San Fernando Outdoor market, which took place on Feb. 27, featured 10 artisanal vendor booths, a DJ, and a Truman House Tavern beer garden. The duo put that event together in two weeks.
Medina and Bernal said that they’ve had “overwhelming support†ever since. The March 27 event has already doubled in size.
Bernal, the general manager at vintage shop Throwback Junction and president of the Downtown San Fernando Mall Association, said that “Downtown San Fernando is the destination for coming to celebrate — piñatas, quince dresses, etc. It’s nice to have people walking the strip again.â€
Medina, who is the co-owner of Truman House Tavern and also half of the reason that we have the Granada Hills food trucks on Fridays, is excited to support small businesses in the Valley.
The pair agreed that their goal should be to help the small businesses in San Fernando without harming the brick and mortar shops on the strip. For this reason, they don’t allow creators to sell anything that the brick and mortar stores sell.
If you’re a creator who would like to be a vendor at an upcoming San Fernando Outdoor Market, email popupsanfernando@gmail.com or send a direct message to @sfoutdoormarket on Instagram.
