The family behind Northgate Markets, one of the largest Latino grocers in the United States, will open Mercado Gonzalez, a new food hall in the heart of Costa Mesa. The roughly 70,000-square-foot venue draws influence from mercados in Mexico, like Mercado de Coyoacan, one of Mexico City’s most iconic markets, and Mercado de Artesanias de Oaxaca.
Named after Don Miguel Gonzalez and Dona Teresa Reynoso de Gonzalez, the husband-wife duo who founded Northgate Markets in 1980, the food hall will feature more than 20 food stalls, live music, shopping galore and a fine-dining restaurant. Unlike traditional supermarkets where one must zig-zag through parallel aisles while hunting for shelved food, this new food hall will allow for a more freeing shopping experience where patrons can saunter around the open and airy bazaar, grab a quick bite, and hit up local vendors, butchers, cheesemongers, tortillerias, and other specialty shops for day-to-day shopping.
A few highlights will include Aguas Frescas, a full service liquoria carrying imported beers, wines, tequilas and mescal; La Gonzalez Tortilleria serving birria, menudo and freshly-made tortillas; and sweet treats care of Pasteleria La Gonzalez and Dulces Artesanos. The food stands will also host Mexico City churreria El Moro serving churros and seven types of hot chocolate, tortas from Chiva Torta, tacos care of Los Guichos and carnitas by Don Miguel.
In addition to quotidian shopping, Mercado Gonzalez will also feature a couple of sit-down, destination-worthy spots: Maizano, from Jorge Salim and Javier Hernandez Pons, the duo who created LA Cha Cha Chá and Loreto in Los Angeles, will feature a menu that, as its name suggests, focuses on Mexican heirloom corn. Diners can look forward to dishes like mole, sopa de Lima, and sundry of memelas and tetelas. Salim and Pons will also open Entre Nos, a 6,000-square-foot outdoor bar adorned with tropical flora, which will offer a variety of libations including micheladas, mezcal, tequila and Mexican beers.
Mercado Gonzalez will also operate a commissary kitchen that will work with street vendors and budding culinary entrepreneurs that will, in addition to providing a space to prepare food, will help guide them with issues like food-safety certificates, costing out items and support with overall success.
The food hall, which will showcase murals by Claudio Limón, is part of the Northgate Markets family-run empire that has more than 40 locations throughout Southern California.
Opening day is Friday, Nov. 17. Hours will run from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week.
Find it: 2300 Harbor Blvd. (at Wilson), Costa Mesa
