Hosting the Atlanta Chinatown Market: Food, Art, and Community Vibes • Oh Snap! Let's Eat!

This past March, I had the honor of hosting the Atlanta Chinatown Market - a growing community event founded by local artist and creative Andrew Blooms in partnership with the historic Atlanta Chinatown in Chamblee, Georgia.

It was an incredible afternoon filled with Asian food, music, art, and meaningful conversation. As someone who's passionate about food and community here in Atlanta, I was genuinely excited to be part of this effort to uplift Asian culture in such a vibrant, welcoming way.

So, what's Atlanta Chinatown Market?

If you've never been, Atlanta's Chinatown is tucked off Buford Highway in Chamblee - and it's been around as long as I can remember (I moved here in 1989!).

I grew up spending every Saturday there - going to Chinese school, learning traditional Chinese dance, eating lunch at the food court, and hanging out with friends while my mom taught Chinese watercolor classes. I even performed in plays and music showcases in the Chinese Cultural Center behind Chinatown.

It's a place that holds a lot of cultural significance, especially for folks who grew up in the area - visiting Chinese bakeries, dim sum spots, and Dinho Chinese Supermarket with their families.

That's what Andrew Blooms is working to honor and reimagine. He's a local Taiwanese-American artist, designer, and musician who started the Atlanta Chinatown Market to help revitalize this historic space through community-centered events. He also runs Blooms Emporium, a boutique and art space at Ponce City Market (and now there's one in Chinatown as well!), where he teaches classes inspired by traditional Asian art.

The market originally started as a daytime event (which is the one I hosted!), and later during the summer, it evolved into a night market with even more of those nostalgic Asian street food vibes.

Hosting the event!

When Andrew reached out and asked me to host, I was like... uhh YES?! I was honored, thrilled, and honestly just really hyped.

I got to welcome everyone, introduce the performers and vendors, and share a little bit about why this space is so important - not just to me, but to the Asian community here in Atlanta.

And let's be real, it was also just so fun seeing everyone out and about, eating snacks, chatting with artists, and reconnecting with Chinatown in a whole new way.

There was such a mix of people - from longtime community members to folks who were visiting for the first time. It felt super special.

What made it awesome

Of course, one of the perks of hosting this event inside Atlanta's Chinatown Mall was being surrounded by all that amazing food from the longtime staples in the food court - like Cantonese BBQ, spicy Sichuan dishes, tasty noodle bowls, and more!

And here's the thing: that food is there every day. So definitely go check it out even when it's not the Chinatown Market!

What made this day feel different was the energy. At the market, there was a full lineup of local artists, creatives, and vendors selling everything from original art prints, jewelry, zines, and handmade goods.

There was also live T-shirt screen printing happening on-site by Wuzy's Print Shop, a local print studio based in Atlanta. You could literally pick a design and watch your shirt get made right there - it was such a cool way to take home a piece of the event.

Add in the music (with live DJs), the conversations, and that buzz of community energy, and the space just felt alive in a whole new way.

It wasn't just a market. It was a moment - bringing people together to celebrate culture, creativity, and connection in a place that really matters.

Why it matters

This event was so much more than just a fun weekend outing. For me, it felt like a beautiful bridge between past and present.

The Chinatown I grew up in is still there - but events like this are helping reimagine what it can be for future generations.

I love that Andrew's not just trying to "revive" Chinatown - he's creating something that feels true to its roots, while making space for what it can grow into next.

Want to experience it?

After the March event, the market continued through spring and transitioned into a night market series that ran through September, bringing even more food, music, and community energy to the plaza.

There aren't any more events planned for the rest of this year, but fingers crossed it'll return in the future! If you're curious or want to catch the next one, follow @blooms.emporium on Instagram for updates.