Open Streets ICT Nomar marks 3rd anniversary with big turnout Sunday in north Wichita
With the smell of carne asada tacos and aguas frescas filling the air, crowds gathered in north Wichita on Sunday afternoon for the third Open Streets ICT Nomar.
The event, which launched in 2019 but skipped 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, stretched along 21st Street from Broadway to Woodland Park.
Attendees perused the largest turnout of vendors since its inception, said Ariel Rodriguez, executive director of Empower, a nonprofit that helps the North End small-business community with knowledge and resources to help their businesses grow. All together, about 140 vendors were present and selling food, drinks, art and other cultural products, he said.
“It’s exciting to take a step back and look at the diversity, both seeing the Hispanic and non-Hispanic community,” Rodriguez said. “If we’re going to help our community grow, we need to the two to come together.”
One vendor echoed Rodriguez in that it brings the community together and showcases Hispanic culture.
Erika Galindo was brought from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, when she was 3 and has lived here ever since. Originally raised in south Wichita, she had lived in north Wichita for the past 30 years.
“We get to invite the entire community and have a little walk and get to know what we offer,” Galindo said. “There’s tons of self employed business down this street and the food is pretty good.”
Thirty-eight years ago, Galindo’s father opened Galindo’s Fashion, which sells Hispanic-inspired artwork, apparel, hats, jewelry and accessories.
This marks Galindo’s second time participating in Open Streets ICT Nomar. Her first run was in 2022.
“This event really helps us because even though we’ve been in the community for 38 years, there’s a lot of people that don’t know about us,” Galindo said. “We get to meet new people.”
Fidel Serrano, who co-founded Alma Negra Collective, a tequila lifestyle brand that sells apparel, hats and accessories, said Open Streets ICT Nomar helps not only bring awareness of the North End, but helps startup businesses get their name out there.
Serrano was born and raised in Jalisco, Mexico, and moved with his family to Garden City then ended up studying and staying in Wichita. Alma Negra Collective started out as a class project while Serrano was earning his MBA at Friends University.
The company is currently in the process of creating a tequila that will one hopefully be imported into the U.S.
Open Streets ICT Nomar “just brings people from different areas in the community — and the small businesses are able to showcase what they do,” Serrano said. “The north side is very diverse in the business aspect.”
A hub located at Nomar Plaza saw returning vendors such as Las Delicias, Neza tires and well-known food trucks. A hub at Woodland Park hosted community partners and nonprofit organizations.
“It’s a very beautiful moment to see families out here enjoying the culture and learning about something they may know nothing about,” Rodriguez said.
This story was originally published May 7, 2023 at 3:05 PM.