Meet Gracie Santos Guce and Jennifer Marie Johnson, the duo behind The Palengke National! Gracie and Jennifer will be hosting a special Night Market at our Seattle Restored Downtown space this Valentine’s Day. Read on to learn more about Gracie, Jennifer, and The Palengke National!
Q: Hi Gracie and Jennifer! Tell us about your marketplace event coming up at Seattle Restored Downtown.
A: We have the Valentine’s Night Market on Wednesday, February 14th at Seattle Restored Downtown where we will be featuring a number of Filipinx vendors as well as other BIPOC vendors! We encourage all of our vendors to share with the community their culture through their food and retail items. For Valentine’s Day, our vendors will be offering a variety of gift items for attendees and for their loved ones. Gift items include craft timepieces, clothing items with Filpinx fabrics, Filipinx-inspired candles, Japanese and Filipinx influenced enamel pins, vintage clothing, permanent jewelry, clay jewelry, and of course, Filipinx food and desserts. The Valentine’s Night Market will have so much more, you’re just going to have to see for yourself! Enjoy this one-of-a-kind night market experience; make memories with our Photobooth, try Filipinx flavors, and buy unique gifts for yourself and for your loved ones.
Q: What’s the most rewarding part of your business pursuits?
A: The Palengke National has provided opportunities for small business owners to connect with other small businesses and utilize our social platforms to broaden their reach to new patrons. Part of our mission is to assist in uplifting newer business owners with resources such as marketing tools and assistance with growing their clientele. Many of our participants have joined us as first time pop-up vendors, which has helped to prepare them for other markets.
Q: How has your connection with Seattle Restored impacted your work?
A: Our connection with Seattle Restored has allowed us to expand our reach to other demographics. It has really felt like an inclusive partnership when The Palengke National holds events at Seattle Restored Downtown and we appreciate the assistance that Seattle Restored provides as well. Our vendors and we, as organizers, feel taken care of.
Q: What brings you most alive about working or living in Seattle?
A: Seattle is such a special city in that there are so many opportunities to experience a variety of cuisines, explore visual art scenes and performative art.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to locals, what would it be?
A: Shop small, shop local, and shop BIPOC-owned. We need to bring equity to our small business community.
Q: What’s your favorite Seattle Restored pop-up or art installation and why?
A: Seattle Restored’s pop-up window at 9th & Thomas was one of our favorite pop-up locations because it featured a good number of small businesses in a rotating schedule and that allowed for more businesses to gain visibility and increase brand awareness.
Q: What’s your favorite Seattle memory?
Jennifer: I grew up in Seattle proper. I have so many fond memories from swimming in Lake Washington, eating dim sum after Sunday service, Ferry rides to Bainbridge island, Torchlight Parade, day trips to Pista Sa Nayon…
Gracie: My favorite Seattle memory is our first Palengke at Stonehouse Cafe. It had been raining all week, but the sun came out for our Palengke day and the community came out as well. There were so many attendees that we could all barely fit on the grounds. It was the first time people came out after a lockdown and it was really special. We definitely felt like we were part of a big community whose members supported and uplifted each other.
Q: Where would you spend a lazy Sunday afternoon in Seattle?
A: At a local coffee shop, the library or on the ferry. The Frye Museum is a favorite because I love contemporary art and it is very accessible, always with a new exhibitor and an awesome gift shop!
VISIT THE PALENGKE NATIONAL’S
VALENTINE’S NIGHT MARKET
When: Wednesday, February 14, 4-8pm
Where: Seattle Restored Downtown, 1501 5th Ave, Seattle (map)
