PORTLAND, Oregon — Fundraisers have been launched to help small businesses heavily damaged by a fire at Portland Mercado on Jan. 3. All businesses are closed until further notice due to the damage and lack of electricity.
Firefighters responded just after 5:30 a.m. after multiple 911 callers reported hearing explosions and seeing fire at the popular food cart pod near Southeast 72nd Avenue and Southeast Foster Road. Crews extinguished the fire, which was initially contained to a small business inside a building on the property. The building's common space was filled with smoke and flames reached the ceiling, Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) reported.
No one was hurt and PF&R is still investigating the cause of the fire.
Portland Mercado opened in April 2015. It includes food carts and a main building that houses independent small businesses. Hacienda CDC, the nonprofit that operates Portland Mercado, calls the space a "hub for Latino culture in Portland ... that provides affordable retail space for businesses to launch and grow."
Anyone who wants to show their support can donate to fundraisers that have been set up.
Portland Mercado Fire Relief Fund
Hacienda CDC has established a relief fund to benefit affected employees and small business owners as the work to reopen. Since the relief fund opened, Portland Mercado has received hundreds of messages of support and donations.
Fundraiser for owner of Barrio
A GoFundMe has been created for Chris Shimamoto, the owner of Barrio, a bottle shop that serves beer and wine. Barrio was one of the small businesses that was significantly damaged.
"I’m obviously sad, devastated for all my work neighbors and commissary kitchen friends affected by this at the Mercado," the business said on its Instagram page. "My heart is grateful for all the immediate donations, support and love from the community and all the notes and beautiful stories you’ve posted and I’ve received."
As of Thursday morning, the GoFundMe has raised nearly $53,000.
Fundraiser organized by Sandy's Myanmar Cuisine
Sandy's Myanmar Cuisine hosted a fundraising event on Friday, Jan. 4. The restaurant said all money raised will go towards Barrio and its owner.
"Chris Shimamoto, owner of Barrio at Portland Mercado gave me my start and a place to share my food at his bar as a pop up," the restaurant said on its Instagram page. "He encouraged me and supported me while I was trying to get up on my feet. So please join me in helping support a great friend, a small business owner and great guy all around."