River Market director Mark Shieh has made it his mandate to carve out a culinary hot spot in the Royal City. With slow determination, he is crafting a food and community market with a deep-rooted commitment to honouring his values. Shieh, who has a bachelor of science in engineering and a master of science in engineering management from Stanford University, arrived at the River Market with a unique background. He was a Disney Imagineer, helping develop new theme park experiences. Later, he was the director of user research at ECCO Design in New York. Eventually Shieh returned to Vancouver and found his way to the River Market, which he purchased in 2008. Shieh has revamped and reimagined the old Quay Market, turning it into a whimsical place to spend some time by the river.
Niki Hope: What is your long-term vision for the River Market?
Mark Shieh: We envision the River Market as a fun culinary adventure for your tastebuds. A marketplace to feed your hunger and tickle your curiosity. It's all part of a bigger mission - to eat smarter and to build a stronger food system.
NH: What would you like to see more of in New Westminster?
MS: More support for entrepreneurs and small businesses in our city.
NH: What would you like to see more of in River Market?
MS: More guests! Some people still don't know that the market is now open. Or that it's newly renovated with a focus on food. Please bring your friends here.
NH: Favourite meal at the Market?
MS: When my mom and motherin-law visited during Royal City Farmers Market, we started with fish tacos at The Crab Shop, then tortilla soup at Pamola Bakery, followed by grilled king oyster mushrooms with polenta fries at Wild Rice, and for the sweet finale a vegan sweet crepe Brigitte from Crepe Des Amis and a scoop of lemon gelato from Tre Galli. We like to eat.
NH: What will downtown New Westminster look like in 10 years?
MS: I see the strength of our downtown built around education, health and independent retail. I also see lots of talent here in new media and creative arts. In 10 years? I'd love to see New Westminster be the birthplace of the next Pixar.
NH: What are the key ingredients to create community?
MS: Doing things together. Living next to each other makes us neighbours, but doing things together makes us a community.
NH: What are your three favourite cities, and why?
MS: Kyoto in spring, to meander its streets during cherry blossom hanami. Portland in summer, to enjoy its farmers markets and microbreweries. Barcelona in autumn, to sip cava in its many perfect plazas. I can't stop at three cities; there are four seasons.
New York in winter, to ice skate in Central Park.
NH: What are you most proud of at the market?
MS: Staying true to our vision. We set out to cultivate an ecosystem for our region's best independent food shops. I remember a defining moment for our team during the dark days of the economic downturn. A national ice cream chain expressed interest in opening here. This was at a time when we had no tenants signed up. While we were tempted and needed the revenue, we ultimately decided to pass. It would have taken us off course. We are not against chain stores. But we believe diversity is critical for vibrant and interesting places. There are already many shopping malls for big companies. Let's create an alternative marketplace with local independent businesses.
NH: Biggest surprise?
MS: How tough this project is. But as my favourite professor Sara Little Turnbull once said: If you don't stretch, you don't know where the edge is.
NH: One thing you'd change about New Westminster.
MS: Be bolder in our collective imagining of the new New West.
NH: Biggest challenge facing the Market?
MS: Finding someone to reinvent Chuck E. Cheese. The market's last remaining spot on the second floor is a big 6,000-square-feet space. We have lots of requests from families for an imaginative play facility.
There's not enough fun places where parents and young kids can play together with good food and nice atmosphere. If that someone is out there looking to do an interesting project on play, call me!
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