Infinite Loops — Ep. 299

John Wang: The Man Who Built The Queens Night Market

Host: Jim O’Shaughnessy
Guest: John Wang
Date: January 29, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Infinite Loops features John Wang, founder of the Queens Night Market, in conversation with host Jim O’Shaughnessy. Wang shares his journey from burned-out corporate lawyer to launching what has become one of New York City’s most joyful and inclusive civic projects. The conversation explores Wang’s unconventional path, the genesis and guiding principles of the Night Market, entrepreneurship and risk, the market’s impact, and the challenges and triumphs of building a beloved community institution.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

John’s Origin Story and Turning Point

• Early Education & Background
  • Wang grew up in Texas; was a “terrible high school student” and went to University of Michigan to get far from home.
  • Triple majored, then attended Yale Law School and earned a joint MBA, “left with a bunch of student debt” [01:57].
• The Unhappy Attorney
  • Chose corporate law “to pay off my loans” but never saw it as a long-term career.
  • “I counted down the days until I could pay off my loans and then figure out [what was next]. I’m sort of doomed to not be satisfied, I think.” [06:05 — John Wang]

Genesis of the Queens Night Market

• The ‘Aha’ Moment
  • Recalled childhood nights in Taiwan’s night markets as formative, fun, and community-focused experiences [06:38].
  • After several failed attempts to partner on start-ups and consulting ventures, Wang decided:

    “Why don’t I just start New York’s first night market?... That could impact New York City forever and ever.” [07:20]

  • Uniquely, the goal was to make something that represents New York’s diversity and affordability (“an FU to New York”), with a price cap on all food.

Market Structure: Principles & Practices

• Core Values
  1. Maximal Representation: Showcase as many New York-origin countries as possible via vendor diversity.
  2. Affordability: Enforced a price cap on food—$5 at launch, now $6.
• Success by Multiple Definitions
  • “Our success stories don’t all look like traditional business wins. For some, it’s family time under the tent.” [16:00 — John Wang]
  • Spawned 500+ small businesses, though Wang reminds: “You should never start a small business. Terrible idea... But for people with a real Plan B, like law grads—they have the privilege of taking risks.” [10:50]

The Night Market Experience

• Physical Layout & Visitor Experience [17:06]
  • 300,000–400,000 sq. ft. of blue tents (food) and orange tents (art/merchandise), 105–110 vendors nightly.
  • Curated for both diversity and novelty:

    “We’ve represented like, 103 countries through their food.” [18:48]

  • Vendors must sell what they personally grew up eating —a safeguard against inauthentic concepts and trend-following.

Vendor Pathways: Challenges & Guidance

• Seeing Success and Learning From Failure [13:33–16:57]
  • Some vendors use the Market to build family memories; others have scaled into regional chains.
  • The cost of failure is low (“make it affordable to lose”), making the market a testbed for entrepreneurship.
• Top Advice
  • “Please, at least smile and make eye contact with people that walk past you… It’s amazing how many small businesses don’t.” [26:56]
  • The steep learning curve is often eased by camaraderie and cross-cultural support among vendors [29:41].
  • Marketing and clear signage often determine who thrives—sometimes “just hanging those Chinatown ducks got a vendor a constant line for 10 years.” [22:10]

Market Evolution & Curation

• Food and Merchandise
  • Retail items must be locally made or curated—less strict on cultural ties than for food.
  • Merchandise has shifted from “cultural representation” to a balance between representativeness and what sells (art, ceramics, plushies, anime toys) [33:31].
• Entertainment & Community [36:47]
  • Live performances from diverse artists; initially unpaid, now receive small stipends and tips.
  • The market radiates a “calm joy” and attracts a demographic “cross-section of New York City”—mirroring the city’s ethnic make-up closely [51:49].
• Business Model: Intentionally Flawed
  • Wang never profits from vendor fees—vendor fees only cover operating expenses; sponsorships or bar operations cover the rest.
  • “It’s terrible. It’s like the worst idea ever, to be honest… but at least I’ve forced my own hand.” [39:27]

Impact & Reputation

• Recognition and Role in NYC
  • Helped put Queens “on the map,” gained international accolades as a top world market (Lonely Planet, Financial Times) [47:50].
  • Notable feedback:

    “Probably once a week, someone writes, ‘Queens Night Market is the best part about New York City.’” [51:17]

  • The market fosters intergenerational, cross-cultural connections and has become a gathering place for the city’s rich diversity.
• Turnover and Expansion [55:48]
  • Aims for ~50% vendor turnover to keep things fresh, but economic shifts influence this.
  • Wang is transparent about his wish for the market to potentially exist “outside of” his stewardship—offering even to sell it to NYC Parks for $1 [64:14].

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I always knew I was not going to be a lawyer… Why don’t I just start New York’s first night market?”
  — John Wang, [00:00]
• “If you can persist through so many nos and so many people telling you not to do it, there’s something to be said about that.”
  — John Wang, [13:33]
• “There’s no magic behind spurring micro-businesses: just make it affordable to lose.”
  — John Wang, [14:03]
• “It’s not about authenticity. If you grew up eating it, it has a tradition.”
  — John Wang, [58:40]
• “For eight hours a week, [New Yorkers] are just in perfect harmony.”
  — John Wang, [47:50]
• “Be nice. That would be the first thing I’d say as emperor of the world… Manners matter.”
  — John Wang, [77:54]
• “I would have had someone else start it. Because I do think it should exist.”
  — John Wang, [64:14]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• John’s Origin Story – [01:28–06:05]
• Night Market Genesis – [06:34–10:34]
• Entrepreneurship and Risk – [10:34–13:33]
• Vendor Success/Failure Stories – [13:33–16:57]
• Walking into the Market (Tour) – [17:06–19:03]
• Vendor Curation Process – [19:08–22:10]
• Marketing and Vendor Lessons – [22:10–27:58]
• Vendor Camaraderie & Learning Curve – [29:41]
• Impact on Small Business Growth – [32:31–33:17]
• Merchandise & Entertainment – [33:31–39:01]
• Business Model & Sponsorships – [39:27–47:50]
• Community Impact and Affordability – [47:50–53:44]
• Vendor Turnover and Market Evolution – [55:48–58:10]
• Cultural Authenticity vs. Tradition – [58:10–61:45]
• Health Codes & Operations – [61:45–63:03]
• Reflections & Five-Year Outlook – [64:14–70:12]
• Legacy, Stewardship, and NYC Politics – [70:12–72:25]
• Personal Reflections on Raising Family in NYC – [72:35–76:00]
• Final Question: Emperor of the World – [77:07–79:44]

Closing Reflections

John Wang’s unconventional approach—eschewing profit, centering inclusion and affordability, and embracing transparency—has made the Queens Night Market a model for joyful, community-driven placemaking. His humility and wit, combined with a clear-eyed look at entrepreneurship, risk, and public good, offer both inspiration and practical insights for anyone seeking to spark real connection in a challenging urban landscape.

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