By Veronica Chavez

Before the recession began a few years ago it seemed like New York City couldn’t possibly get any more competitive. Now that Manhattan, and the United States for that matter, finds itself knee-deep in the economic reality of the matter, “competitive” would be an understatement in describing today’s modern working world. Freshly graduated students find themselves battling for job openings, men and women lucky enough to be outside of the unemployment statistic grasp onto their jobs for dear life, and there’s an unspoken consensus that everyone must be out for themselves.
This reality holds true for both business-types as well as creative entrepreneurs, including vendors seeking to participate in the Hester Street Fair, one of Manhattan’s most popular events during the summer. With only 65 slots available each week at the Lower East Side event, applicants must prove to be some of the finest in their craft to be considered. Designers, entrepreneurs, chefs, and vintage collectors flock to the online application in hopes of participating in the fair that has gained reputation as a springboard of sorts for new and budding businesses. With such an opportunity at grasp, applicants find themselves in complete competition mode in the months prior to the event. However, once vendors are accepted into the fair, the atmosphere completely changes to one of lightheartedness, interpersonal curiosity, and most importantly a sense of camaraderie and friendship.

“We’re like a little family here,” says Warren Schierenbeck, owner of Daisy Dukes Barbecue, a familiar favorite at the fair. It’s Schierenbeck’s fourth year selling pulled pork, brisket, and other meats at the downtown event, yet he talks about the anticipation leading up to the event with the likeness of a student waiting for summer. “I love it, I can’t wait,” he says, “what could be better than working outside, in the sun, meeting all kinds of great people every week?”
Most of the vendors at the fair’s opening on April 28th had similar things to say about the event, many employing terms such as “community” and “family” as opposed to ones that may suggest that the fair is purely a medium for business. Rachel Mae of “Rachel Mae’s Farmstand” and Nicci Silva of “Dolly Moo Body Love,” both vendors in their first or second year at the event, express feelings of gratitude and luck in being part of the event. “Although my business is mostly online, Hester has given me a lot of momentum,” said Silva. Like many of her fellow entrepreneurs at the event, Silva makes her product by hand, in her case with the help of her sister Amy Rivera. “I hope to have a stand-alone store one day, and because of Hester that doesn’t seem that impossible.”
The founders of the fair started the event with goals like Silva’s in mind. “The dream is for you to start here, and then you leave,” said Suchin Pak, former MTV correspondent and one of the fair’s founders, “our dream is for you to not to come back after your first year at Hester because you’ve done so well you’re now opening up your own brick and mortar shop.”
For Simon and his wife, owners of Macaron Parlour, Hester did exactly that. The patisserie has participated in the fair since year one and described the event as an “incubator” for their business, helping them gain traction and starting capital to become the success that they are today. “It would have taken us a lot longer to build our client base and capital had it not been for Hester,” said Simon.
The event draws in a varied crowd, including local residents from the growingly gentrified Lower East Side as well as older folk from neighboring Chinatown. Bloggers, foodies and fashionistas were seen all over the event’s opening day, phones in hand and connecting to social media outlets such as Instagram, Vine, and of course, Facebook. “We don’t do a large amount of advertising for the event,” said Suhyin Pak, another founder of the event. “Once the summer begins, news begins to get around on social media and that’s just a force all it’s own.”
In addition to the Pak siblings, founders of the event include Adam Zeller, and Ron Castellano, owner of the popular venue Santos Party House in the Lower East Side. The idea came about through casual conversation between the four friends and was made a reality when the team reached out to Seward Park Co-Ops, the owners of the property where the event is located, who were happy to fill the empty space with something for the community.
The space wasn’t always empty though. During the 1800’s, the very same location was home of the first pushcart market of the Lower East Side and was wildly successful for the neighborhood. The founders chose the location for it’s rich history and cultural location, hoping to be the same type of success. So far, they have.

Check out the history of Hester Street and the pushcart market: