Attendees gather around tables to eat and socialize during the Clintonville Asian Night Market in September 2026. Credit: Courtesy of Norberto Leal Zavala

When Fang Young moved from Thailand to Columbus almost six years ago, she found herself missing more than just the food she grew up eating.

She missed the experience surrounding it — crowded night markets, street food and the ability to sample dishes from multiple vendors in one place. This inspired Young, founder of the Clintonville Asian Night Market, to curate a similar space in Columbus.

“I was homesick, you know, missing the food in Thailand,” Young said. “In Thailand, street food and night markets are just a thing.”

Following its first event in September, the Clintonville Asian Night Market will return Friday from 4-9 p.m. at 595 E. Weber Rd. The market will feature food and craft vendors representing a variety of Asian cultures, as well as cultural performances.

For Young, who also operates Tuk Tuk Thai Cuisine, a pop-up food tent, creating the market was about more than recreating the foods she missed from home.?

As a food vendor, Young said attending fairs and festivals introduced her to other Asian small-business owners who did not always have spaces to sell their food. She said she wants the night market to give those vendors another opportunity to earn income while allowing visitors to experience different Asian cultures.?

Seeking out vendors from different Asian backgrounds, rather than focusing exclusively on Thai food, was intentional, Young said.?

The September market featured Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Lao, Indonesian and Cambodian foods, and Young said she hopes to include even more cultures as the event continues to expand.?

Chirapron Chkrobov, owner of Pim’s Thai Food, spoke through her daughter Sanruethai Phan Jarung, who translated for her. She said participating in the market means sharing something more personal than a meal.?

“Every time she cooks pad thai, she feels like she’s back home,” Phan Jarung said.

Vendors smile for a photo while preparing food at the Clintonville Asian Night Market in September 2026. Credit: Courtesy of Norberto Leal Zavala

Chkrobov said sharing her food gives customers a chance to experience Thai culture through flavor.?

This connection became especially meaningful during the market’s September debut. Chkrobov said customers visited her stand, returned to support her and told their friends about her food.

“I’m so happy,”? Phan Jarung said for Chkrobov. “I work hard, but I feel like I want to do it more for them.”

Young said the September market drew approximately 1,000 visitors, exceeding what some vendors had prepared for. Several food vendors sold out around 7 p.m., two hours before the scheduled end of the event, she said.

Young said vendors are preparing more food for Friday’s market after seeing the turnout at the inaugural event.

The market is designed to especially support vendors who may have less experience selling at large events. Young said she helped one Lao vendor navigate food licensing and other necessary paperwork to ensure she would have an opportunity to sell at the market.?

Food, however, is only one part of the experience.

Cultural performances are common at night markets she has visited in Asia and contribute to the energy she hopes to create in Clintonville, Young said. September’s market featured Thai boxing, while Friday’s event will include traditional Thai dance. She said she hopes to feature performances from additional Asian cultures in the future.

The market also shares its space with local artists. Young said visitors can browse an indoor art gallery along with the outdoor food and craft vendors. At the September market, she said one artist sold enough work to help pay her rent for the following month.?

“It helps everyone,” Young said. “It helps the artists, helps vendors.”

Although Young said she has received offers to move the market into larger spaces, she does not want its growth to come at the expense of the atmosphere she has created.?

Young said she plans to continue holding the market once a month next year while maintaining the community-focused atmosphere that inspired it in the first place.?

“I don’t want it to get too big,” Young said. “I want it to be small.”