PHILADELPHIA – Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation will host the fifth Chinatown night market event on October 8, 2015, from 7 to 11pm, starting at 10th and Arch Street. Over 60 vendors are expected to participate, not including local restaurants and businesses. This year, the event is being hosted by PCDC and re-branded as “Yè Shì,” which is the Chinese pinying for night markets, which are nighttime street festivals in Asia. In past years, PCDC had partnered with The Food Trust to host the event. “The past four years’ Night Markets helped to propel Chinatown as a regional food destination in a very big way,” says John Chin, PCDC Executive Director. “This year’s event sprung out of the desire to go back to our roots and celebrate our unique Asian food heritage. We are concentrating on our local restaurants, small business owners and residents, and on having this be a beneficial experience for them.” The event will create economic opportunities for the Chinatown commercial corridor, which is integral to this low-income community where many immigrant families work and own businesses. The Night Market is part of PCDC’s Main Street Program, whose purpose is to draw more visitors to Chinatown, and build capacity for small businesses and entrepreneurs in Chinatown. It provides exposure for small businesses, provides job training opportunities and connects successful participants to larger citywide venues. Sponsors and supporters this year include the City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce, Green Mountain Energy, AARP Fraud Watch Network, and the Night Market Committee, which is comprised of local business owners from the Chinatown community and First District Councilman Mark Squilla.