Thanks to generous support from Travel Oregon and Prosper Portland, the Portland Mercado has welcomed a new addition: a custom mural by local artist, Christian Tellez, in partnership with the Portland Street Art Alliance.

“We are thrilled to have this beautiful addition to the Portland Mercado,” says Ernesto Fonseca, Hacienda CEO, “which will enhance this community space and serve as a testament to the colorful, bold, and dynamic individuals that make up our community at the Portland Mercado, and the vibrant and eclectic cultures that are a part of our heritage.”

Originally from Mexico, Christian is a licensed architect and accomplished artist with completed works in Oregon, Texas, and Puebla, Mexico. His background in architecture and interior design and extensive experience designing residential and commercial spaces, allow him to create unique and beautiful works like the Mercado Mural. We chatted with him to learn more about what this project means to him and the community at large.

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Tell us about yourself!

Muralist Christian Tellez with Ernesto Fonseca, CEO of Hacienda CDC

I'm from a town called Chachapa in Puebla, Mexico. I graduated as an Architect in Mexico, and I work as an architectural design staff here in Portland.

What does it mean to you to be a part of this mural project at the Portland Mercado?

It means an opportunity to keep introducing myself to the community. I like to become part of a community as an active member enhancing public spaces with art and culture and remembering I'm able to change my environment and raise my opinion. 

What does a place like the Portland Mercado mean to you? What impact have you seen it have on the community?

The Mercado reminds me of those warmer places when you are far away from your family, friends, and roots, making you feel at home. It is a place to re-charge your energy. It's essential to have these places to share our culture and have safe and welcoming places for diverse cultures.

Your work as an artist and an architect works to both enhance and physically create new spaces. What does a vibrant community look like to you?

To me, a vibrant community should be the example of a living community where you can see the product of cultural interaction and dialogue. A vibrant community is constantly transforming itself to respond to community needs that develop its vision for the future.

Your work as an architect is also directly connected to our new affordable housing developments, Las Adelitas! Tell us what it means to be a part of a project like this that will bring 142 new affordable homes to the Cully neighborhood.

It feels great to be part of a multicultural and inclusive team at Salazar Architect. Providing quality housing project options to the community is part of the solution to the housing crisis we’re seeing. I'm sure it will be a significant improvement to the area.

The Latinx population increased 30% over the last 10 years. What is your personal hope for the growing Latinx community in Portland?

I hope the quality of interaction between cultures grows. Having diverse roots allows us to bring the best of each place to our new home, our new environment, and share them. We have to help each other create opportunities to connect and constantly grow as a community with solid values.

Keep up to date with Christian’s work on Instagram and be sure to visit his vibrant new mural that provides a striking visual for visitors at the Portland Mercado.

About the Portland Mercado

Did you know the Portland Mercado, known for its delicious meals and vibrant atmosphere is actually much more?

Portland Mercado is just one part of Empresarios, our entrepreneurial program with a focus on supporting women-, minority- and immigrant-owned business owners— giving them the tools they need to achieve the dreams they have for their business, their families, and their future.

Learn more about our small business support programming.

Hacienda CDC’s Empresarios programming supports entrepreneurs to start, grow, and scale their businesses. Read more about our featured Empresario and learn about our amazing community of small business owners.

Following a successful series of pop-ups at the Portland Mercado, Mya Sandy Myint, who has been in the Mercado Empresarios program since August 2019, has transitioned to opening her first brick-and-mortar food stall at the CORE (Collective Oregon Eateries) food hall in South East Portland. She is planning on opening this year. Along with participating in our boot camp and advising programming, Sandy also received logo and branding support via the Empresarios design pilot program. She is currently enrolled for a business Individual Development Account (IDA) through Hacienda CDC for added capital to support her continued growth forward.

We connected with Sandy to learn more about her experience in the Empresarios program: 

Tell us about yourself, your business, and how you connected with Empresarios? 

I migrated to the United States in 2005 from Myanmar. I had a restaurant business for 11 years in my country and started my business, Sandy’s Myanmar Cuisine, in Portland in 2019.  In that time, I started my business at a farmer’s market. For the farmer’s market, I needed to find a commissary kitchen to serve food to the community. I searched in Google for the nearest in my area for Commissary Kitchen and I found Portland Mercado Commissary Kitchen and I submit my application. The response was very fast and I got connected with a Business Engagement Specialist and received lots of information and connected to Hacienda CDC. I attended the Boot Camp Program and took a business class from PCC with a scholarship I received from the program. After that, I got assigned a business advisor.  

How did Empresarios impact you and your business trajectory? 

Since I came to this country as an immigrant I didn’t have any knowledge about business [in this country] especially the food and restaurant business, because they have so many rules and regulations. I had no idea. So I went to the boot camp and I got a lot of context and information that is very helpful for my business and helps me keep going with my business. My advisor and the supportive grants I’ve received from Hacienda have helped me survive. My dream is to continue gaining more and more education to support my business. I want to build up and grow Sandy’s Myanmar Cuisine more and more.  

What would you say to someone wanting to start a business of their own? 

Sandy and her son Brandon

I would recommend them to Hacienda and if they wanted to go into the food business I’d tell them to look at the commissary kitchen. That is a very good place to start to build your business. Hacienda is wonderful and gives a lot of support. For people like me, a minority woman in a small community, you need a lot of information. To start a business, we need support very much.  

What is one thing that you’ve taken out of this experience? What made the most impact on you? 

I did have a lot of difficulties financially in 2020 and I got [connected to] a support grant through Hacienda and that was the biggest impact. If I had not gotten that grant I could not continue, especially during this time. Finances are everything. Hacienda has the information that you need to start a business especially for immigrants and minority groups. They give a lot of information regarding financials, IDAs programs, how to save, and how to get [capital]. We have no idea where we have to start to get the information. Hacienda gives us ways to navigate it and get educated. Hacienda is my navigator.  

These last few years have been very difficult for businesses. How would things look different for you without this support? 

Without Hacienda… Sandy’s Myanmar Cuisine could not survive. I am very thankful from the bottom of my heart to the Hacienda CDC organization and everyone who support Sandy's Myanmar Cuisine in Portland, Oregon.  

Click to learn more about Sandy’s Myanmar Cuisine

Click to learn more about Hacienda’s Empresarios program