In 2012, the first 626 Night Market kicked off to unexpected fanfare near Old Town Pasadena. Music played over sizzling grills as the smell of barbecued beef skewers filled the air. The crowds were huge.
Founder Jonny Hwang aimed for a rather niche audience, but word of mouth drew 30,000 people to the event, far more than planned.
“Everybody grabbed their moms or dads or grandmas or kids, and they all just jumped in the car and came as far away as San Francisco and Las Vegas,” said Patricia Huang, a general manager for 626 Night Market, which seven months after that first event would find a new home at Santa Anita Park in nearby Arcadia. “GPS sent them all down one road and all the same freeways, so it clogged up the freeways and it was this massive influx of people into Pasadena.”
Flashforward to now, and Asian-themed night markets dot the Southern California landscape, re-emerging after a pandemic pause that shut them down.
They are drawing tens of thousands to “pop-up” events from Arcadia to San Diego, with visitors ranging from those willing to brave the summer heat on the afternoon pavement, to those who wait for the true outdoor night-life experience.
That experience includes deejays, musicians and dancers taking to stages, while hundreds of people line up in front of smoke-covered booths eager to get a bite from an array of vendors serving everything from mini castella cakes to alligator bites.
Meanwhile, local cities with significant Asian American populations — such as Arcadia — are reaping the benefits, as big summertime crowds converge for a unique blend of Asian food and West Coast culture.
“It’s become a signature event in Arcadia,” said Jason Kruckeberg, assistant city manager and development services director for Arcadia, reflecting on the impact of the 626 Night Market in his city. “It’s kind of synonymous with Arcadia now because it has been at the racetrack for so long and people look forward to it every…
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