^{CADO Market Celebrates Philadelphia's Black Artists, Creatives and Entrepreneurs}

When the time came to introduce Bonde Mercado to Philadelphia, we knew the CADO Market was the perfect place to share our vision. CADO's ethos aligns perfectly with our vision for Bonde Mercado, and we're excited to once again participate in the next market on February 24th at Mother Bethel AME Church (12PM, 419 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147).

Bonde Mercado at CADO Market

Founded by Philadelphia native Debora Charmelus, the CADO Market “is a celebration of Black creativity and a platform for growth offering a curated selection of products from local entrepreneurs, designers, and artists.” In addition to running CADO, Debora is a cultural producer, educator, and serial entrepreneur. She's the founder and principal at Kontan Creative and debuted CADO at The Power Market, an iconic, Black-owned North Philly space located at 19th and Oxford St.

Debora Charmelus

In its second installment, CADO teamed up with Mural Arts and Underground Concepts to activate at the nearly restored Divine Lorraine Hotel. All proceeds from the Winter market were donated to the Colored Girls Museum. In September 2023, CADO launched its 3rd market at the historic Hatfield House and expanded its offerings with a sequence of artist talks and programming. The day featured, “a panel on preserving Black history with Chris Rogers of the Henry O. Tanner House, a local Black historic house, and Morgan Lloyd from the 1838 Metropolis Project, a Black history educational initiative. Plus, the Instagram account All Black Everything Pop Up [hosted] a QVC-style live shopping experience — on th[ier] social”. Sonic Brew, a pop-up coffee and vinyl cafe often found at Clark Park Farmers Market kept the beats and brews going all day. Deb was even able to host a small picnic in the back of the lawn for the 2023 Mural Arts Black Artist Fellowship.

The Hatfield House, now in partnership with the Philadelphia Parks Department, centers the neighborhood's Black culture and history through art exhibitions, community events, and collaborations with local artists, teachers, and entrepreneurs. Deb's vision and execution of CADO align perfectly with Bonde Mercado's mission to remain deeply rooted in the community, embracing the past with a keen eye on the future. Debuting Bonde Mercado at CADO Market's third installment at the historic Hatfield House was an honor, prompting us to eagerly continue our relationship. We were beyond honored to launch at the event and look forward to further collaboration with CADO and the incredible network of artists, creatives, and makers in Philadelphia.