Monterey County Business Council seeks vendors for new Soledad pop-up market 'El Mercadito'

The Monterey County Business Council is inviting vendors to apply for El Mercadito, a new community pop-up market in the city of Soledad designed to showcase local small businesses and entrepreneurs, the council announced Feb. 18.

Program manager Jose Luis Barajas said El Mercadito aims to support historically underserved businesses in Monterey County through the council’s Building Business Back program. “We really are giving priority to the South County businesses,” Barajas said, explaining that while anyone may apply, vendors based in South Monterey County will receive preference when similar vendor types apply.

Barajas outlined the market’s tentative schedule and costs: events are planned monthly from April through September, bimonthly from October through December, and will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Vendor fees are $50 for non-food vendors and $80 for food vendors. The first market is scheduled for Saturday, April 4.

The council is closing the first application round Friday, Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. to assemble vendors for the April market; Barajas said applications will be accepted on a rolling basis afterward and that applicants will be notified of selection no later than Friday, Feb. 27 at 5 p.m. He provided an online application at linktr.ee/montereycountybusiness and an email contact, jose@mcbc.biz; technical-assistance offices are in Monterey, Soledad and Salinas and applicants may call (831) 216-3000 for help.

Barajas said vendors do not need to have every permit in hand to apply and that the council will work with selected vendors to obtain required permits and licenses. For non-food vendors he cited the City of Soledad business license, an employer identification number (EIN) and, where applicable, a California seller’s permit. He cautioned that food vendors may need temporary or mobile food permits or environmental health approvals depending on the operation.

Barajas said El Mercadito will include community programming such as school marching bands and local performers to create a family-friendly environment and to strengthen local foot traffic for vendors.

The council encouraged informal or home-based sellers to apply and said staff will provide help with formalization steps. The announcement closed with contact and application instructions for those interested in participating.