The Bronx Night Market held its last event after a seven-year run on Saturday, Oct. 28. Since 2017, the Bronx Night Market has graced Fordham Plaza with live music and performers, local food and an assortment of artisanal products.
For the past seven years, the Bronx Night Market has offered Fordham students a slice of Bronx culture. On Oct. 12, the Bronx Night Market announced their closure on their Instagram account (@bronxnightmarket). For some students, the Market’s closing came as a surprise.
“I was honestly surprised when they announced the last ever Bronx Night Market, especially since it’s become kind of like a tradition for me to go each year,” said Anaya Ger, FCRH ’25.
Similarly, Araly Langomas, GSB ’24, didn’t expect the market’s unforeseen end.
“I’m on the Bronx Night Market email list. When I received the email that it was permanently ending, I was shocked. Going to the market and enjoying the variety of food from the vendors is something I looked forward to every year. I also think it was a great way of bringing people in the Bronx together and celebrating different cultures within the community,” said Langomas.
As a Resident Assistant (RA), Ger took her residents to the Bronx Night Market annually.
“Since becoming an RA in my sophomore year, I always do a program to introduce residents to the night market because it’s a great way to support local small businesses,” said Ger.
“I loved how close it was to campus. Sometimes when I would go shopping over the weekend on Fordham Road, I’d end up stopping by the market since it was on my way back to campus,” said Langomas.
Masc Hospitality Group (MHG), the organizers of the Bronx Night Market, released a statement citing numerous reasons for the market’s closure, primarily Fordham Plaza’s declining sanitary conditions and an increase in crime.
“The plaza was in bad shape and not being taken care of, during the summer it became a place for homeless people to stay and this caused some issues with stolen items from our vendors.
As a consequence, the affluence and support of the market decreased in 2023,” said Beatriz Torres Martinez, communications and programming director at MHG.
According to Martinez, the future of the Bronx Night Market has been in question since the beginning of its season in April. However, the decision to close the market wasn’t made until the summer.
“During the summertime, we tried to lock in more sponsors and partners to support the market and it was very hard,” said Martinez.
In a statement regarding the Bronx Night Market’s closure, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson expressed her commitment to the market’s return and urged the Department of Transportation to continue conversation with the market’s leadership:
“We need the Department of Transportation to continue engaging with the leadership of the market to prioritize long term options for its operation. We hope these issues are resolved quickly and we can work with our elected officials, the Fordham Business Improvement District and city agencies to keep the Bronx Night Market at Fordham Plaza,” read the statement.
Despite the Market’s closure, Martinez said she is hopeful that the Bronx Night Market will reopen sometime in the future.
“We hope this sad situation incentivizes the Bronx, in general, to take care of our local businesses and support initiatives that highlight how wonderful the borough is,” said Martinez.
MHG hosts other events in New York City, such as the Queens and Harlem Night Markets.
