MOLINE, Ill. — On Nov. 26, Mercado on Fifth opened up a new retail space for small business owners during Small Business Saturday.
"So today, we opened up the new Mercado building to let them have another opportunity to sell their products just ahead of the holiday season," said Mercado on Fifth's co-founder and President, Maria Ontiveros.
One seller, Austin Harned, who runs Quartz Botanicals, said he's grateful for all the non-profit has done for him and other small-business owners.
"I really can't put into words how much it meant to be at Mercado and get that opportunity," said Harned. "It put my products and my stuff out in front of a huge crowd of people."
And Maria Garcia, owner of Las Salsas Dona Mary's, said she hopes the opportunity to sell her Mexican cuisine at Mercado on Fifth, will help jumpstart the restaurant she is opening next month.
"I'm trying to work full time for my future and for my kids and my family," said Garcia.
She's also a wife and a mother who is trying to teach her two children the value of working hard for their dreams.
"[My son] can try [to do anything he wants]," said Garcia. "If he likes this kind of business, he can work at windows or he can go to college and look at other jobs. He can learn how [hard I work]."
Garcia says her restaurant will be open at 1534 6th Ave in Moline in December.
Harned's shop is located at 1515 5th Avenue in Moline. And to learn more about the other vendors that Mercado on Fifth works with, you can click/tap here.