Despite storm damage, the Southeast Asian Market in FDR Park will be open this weekend

The Southeast Asian Market in FDR Park plans to operate on its regular schedule this weekend, though likely not at full capacity after last weekend’s storms incurred damage and forced the market to close. The market’s Dolla Holla event, featuring items like barbecue sticks and light bites for $1, has been moved to this Sunday.

Saturday’s sudden microbursts closed the market early, wreaking havoc on all 53 vendors’ tents. The annual market, which operates on Saturdays and Sundays until Oct. 31, was also closed on Sunday as damage was assessed.

Food inventory, merchandise, and tents were all destroyed. The storms were frightening. Catzie Vilayphonh, the market’s community cultivator, said she received photos from vendors “as they were hiding in the porta-potties.”

Vilayphonh wasn’t certain which vendors would be participating in this weekend’s market but said the hours, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., would be the same as usual.

After the storm, market organizers immediately looked to support the vendors, including soliciting community donations to fund the replacement of tents and other materials.

The timing of the storms made the vendors’ losses all the more difficult. “This is the middle of the season, not the end. It’s not like you’re preparing for bad weather. It was supposed to be like any other day,” said Vilayphonh. “Tents were completely ripped, some were inside out, some had nothing left but the frame.”

Vilayphonh, who has been fielding many messages and emails from the public, said the market’s fans have responded to the call for help. “It’s been really great hearing from people who have visited the market before and are now looking for ways to support.”