Our Street Night Market
On June 23, Sacramento is getting a new night market, Our Street Night Market
Sacramento365 Yellow Brick Group
Photo by Yellow Brick Group’s Jeff Hook.
Meet the Yellow Brick Group
A vision by hometown kids, the marketing/branding agency Yellow Brick Group — comprised of Curtis Currier, Shawn Kahan, and Damian Lynch — are working on the “betterment of the city above all else.” Individually, they worked with Sacramento’s heavyweights David Garibaldi Sacramento Kings
“[Yellow Brick Group] want[s] to build up the energy in Sacramento. It is truly amazing to see this change we’re currently going through. How often do you get to directly contribute to the creative culture of your city? It’s a gift. It’s a responsibility for us to use our talents to…create things we want to see here,” says Kahan.
“For so long we were looking outwards for influence (the Bay Area, Los Angeles), but that interest in Sacramento wasn’t reciprocated. So why don’t we turn that lens around and look at the [people and ideas] here?”
Damian Lynch: Position : Logistics ManFun Fact: Along with throwing events as part of the millennial-run entertainment company Hall of Fame
Shawn Kahan: Position: Marketing Maven Fun Fact: Kahan created his clothing company, Cloud9, at 17. He credits the experience for teaching him the essentials of marketing, branding, and creative direction.
Curtis Currier: Position: Graphic Designer ExtraordinaireFun Fact: A sought-after deejay in the area (Jurts), Currier won the Red Bull DJ Thre3style College Edition regional qualifier in 2013.
Photo courtesy of Binchoyaki Izakaya Dining.
Our Street Night Market
One way they hope to move the city’s creative needle is through their passion project, Our Street Night Market. Dead set on countering the narrative that Sacramento falls asleep at 5pm, the free market will showcase Sacramento’s local food scene on June 23 from 7pm-1am on R Street’s 1100 block.
Announced food vendors include Milk Money Donuts , Yolanda’s Tamales , LowBrau , La Cosecha , Mayahuel , Binchoyaki Izakaya Dining , Wandering Boba , Conscious Creamery ,Market 5 ONE 5 Skool Restaurant , Camellia Coffee Roasters , Puur Chocolat , Fire Wings , Nixtaco Mexican Kitchen Kru Contemporary Japanese Cuisine Fish Face Poke Bar ’
Southside Park’s Urban Roots Brewing & Smokehouse Kimo Sabe Mezcal
“At Our Street, chefs and restaurants can play with new concepts and recipes in an experimental atmosphere,” says Currier. “We want this market to be an incubator for new ideas. We’d love to see a participating chef meet someone with the financial means to back their concept. Our Street has the potential to create new businesses and jobs in our city.”
Along with serving up late night eats and drinks, the night market embraces the energy of the neighborhood by highlighting its artists. You’ll find structures by Trent Dean Yennie Zhou
To operate well into the night, Our Street forgoes amplified speakers for headphones with a silent disco powered by Hall of Fame and Hella Good Company
All in all, the night market is meant to feel like something you’ve never experience in Sacramento, but at the same time feel be grounded in the local community. Local being the imperative word.
“Right now, R Street is really cool, really vibrant. It’s everything that an arts district should be, but there are a number of corporate entities moving in to capitalize on what is going on here. So ‘Our Street’ is a play on words on ‘R Street,’” remarks Kahan.
[Editor’s Note: A Starbucks opened across the street from WAL’s Bottle & Barlow.]
Graphic courtesy of Yellow Brick Group.
What’s remarkable about this first-time event? The fact that the Yellow Brick Group committed the concept just three months ago. The impetus? A healthy obsession and the question, “why not here?”
“Shawn came to me one day and was like ‘we got to do a night market’ and just kept with it. We would be working on other things, but he would keep harping on this idea. It was getting to the point that it was going to happen no matter what,” laughs Currier.
Kahan sees a night market as the perfect solution to the public’s growing desire to find nightlife experiences outside of conventional club- and bar-hopping: it adds to the city’s Farm-to-Fork reputation and fills the limited late-night eats void.
After this trial run, Yellow Brick Group hopes to produce two additional markets this year. Five to six markets are slated for 2019.
Another motivator? Continuing the legacy of friend, mentor, and developer Ali Youssefi.
“Without him, none of this would be possible. He literally put a roof over our heads and gave us the opportunity to have the creative freedom to do what we do. We don’t have worry about paying for rent. And living in [the Warehouse Artist Lofts
“This entire event is dedicated to him. He built [the Warehouse Artist Lofts] so artists could focus on making Sacramento more beautiful and that’s what we intend to. We feel an obligation to pay him back for what he has done for us,” echoes Kahan.
[Editor’s Note: Read this Sacbee article
While the trio had very little difficulty getting partners to buy into the night market, (Visit Sacramento , The City of Sacramento R Street Partnership
“The City’s been great and bought on to our crazy idea from the very beginning. That being said, there is a laundry list of hurdles that you have to go through when you are doing something like this. There are so many departments that you have to work with…and if you don’t have previous experience in this area, you’d be overwhelmed by all the rules and regulations. You wouldn’t know where to begin,” states Currier.
“Let’s put it this way: our processes are a reflection of what kind of city we want to be. What I hear from our Mayor is that we need to make Sacramento vibrant and we are heeding that call. We are playing by the rules, but there is a lot of room for improvement. It would be beneficial to have a conversation to rethink some regulations and permits. It will make Sacramento more attractive for new businesses and entrepreneurs who want to do amazing things here.”
Currier sums it up best, “let’s find ways for people to try new ideas without having to leave their hometown to make it a reality.”
Photo courtesy of Milk Money Donuts.
Do Try This At Home:
Looking to contribute to Sacramento’s Renaissance yourself? The Yellow Brick Group has a few pointers on what you need to make it in Sacramento’s creative community:
Find a team and don’t be afraid to collaborate.
Own your ideas and don’t half-step it. And do not pursue anything just for the money.
Check your ego out the door and develop a thick skin. Ups and downs are a given in the life of an entrepreneur.
Work incrementally; don’t try to do too much at once.
Keep Up with the Yellow Brick Group:
Website | Instagram
Our Street Night Market Facebook | Instagram
Note: Sacramento365 spoke with Yellow Brick Group members Shawn Kahan and Curtis Currier during this interview.
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How can I be a part of the night market as a vendor, I have a food truck serving teriyaki dishes. Let me know if I’m talking to the right person. I was told about it and asked to be apart but not sure how to go about doing so. Thank you
How can I be a part of the night market as a vendor, I have a food truck serving teriyaki dishes. Let me know if I’m talking to the right person. I was told about it and asked to be apart but not sure how to go about doing so. Thank you
View lessHi Ying,
You can find vendor applications on OurStreetNightMarket.com: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeNE3yzo39uAB3wgg85UJcQ0cA6LrTxMyoTKfdCnuunIlaXow/viewform
Best of luck,
Sacramento365
Hi Ying,
You can find vendor applications on OurStreetNightMarket.com: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeNE3yzo39uAB3wgg85UJcQ0cA6LrTxMyoTKfdCnuunIlaXow/viewform
Best of luck,
View lessSacramento365
Bless you for what you are doing!! Sacramento is definitely ready for what you have planned. You are definitely correct - we do not need San Francisco/Bay Area for ideas. Lots of people wish they could live in the awesome community of Sacramento!! Thank you for what you are doing!! I will be there Saturday!
Bless you for what you are doing!! Sacramento is definitely ready for what you have planned. You are definitely correct - we do not need San Francisco/Bay Area for ideas. Lots of people wish they could live in the awesome community of Sacramento!! Thank you for what you are doing!! I will be there Saturday!
View lessAwesome team!
Do you ever need volunteers?
Let me know..thanks
Cheers.
Josilyn
Awesome team!
View lessDo you ever need volunteers?
Let me know..thanks
Cheers.
Josilyn
Hi Josilyn
Please reach out to the Yellow Brick Group at https://www.ybgroup.us/. There is a contact page you can fill out!
All the best,
Sacramento365
Hi Josilyn
Please reach out to the Yellow Brick Group at https://www.ybgroup.us/. There is a contact page you can fill out!
All the best,
View lessSacramento365