It all started when…

The idea for Mercado on Fifth came about during community meetings back in the early 2000’s. The purpose of these meetings was to construct a Floreciente Neighborhood Plan, as well as a Moline Comprehensive Plan, both of which called for the creation of new businesses and recreational activities that would bring neighbors together.
Bob Ontiveros, who grew up in Floreciente and had already made significant improvements to the neighborhood through philanthropic commercial development, participated in these meetings and was passionate about the vision. Bob’s granddaughter Maria Ontiveros, upon returning to the Quad Cities after living abroad, was also inspired by the idea, and together they were able to bring Mercado to fruition. The two founded Mercado on Fifth in the summer of 2016.
After witnessing the rapid growth and tremendous community support of Mercado, the leadership team, which included city planners, LULAC members and community partners, recognized the event had evolved into a cultural hub for the region. The need for expansion was evident, given the large increase in weekly attendance. This prompted Mercado to purchase a building adjacent to the outdoor programming on 5th Avenue which was completed in 2022.