The new Parkside Market stage has been revealed at Downtown Disney District but remains under construction, as part of the ongoing reimagining of the shopping and dining district.
Parkside Market
Parkside Market was announced about a month ago, with the above concept art showing a retrofuture-style white stage with a wall running behind it that features touches of color. The tower running through the stage roof, which was installed later in October, was designed by Nikkolas Smith. It pays tribute to the work of pioneering architects of color in Southern California during the mid-20th century with unique geometric patterns in the sculpture, evoking the famed mid-century buildings they created.
Downtown Disney District Construction
The stage, tower, and wall are all visible now that some construction walls have come down.
The wall has decorative circles in squares. Some of these are painted with Mickey heads in varying colors.
While the basic structure seems complete, crews are still working on minor details, like lighting on the underside of the roof.
More lights are on slanted white poles facing the stage.
The Mickey heads on the wall are visible on the other side, too.
Temporary fencing surrounds the stage while the final details are added.
Some sheathing is around the top edge of the roof.
Crew members were placing this sheathing as we watched, preparing the roof for more paneling.
The oval-shaped roof is supported by several white columns. The tower sculpture sits in a planter next to the stage and extends through a wide hole in the roof.
The sculpture has two wide white columns, one that goes straight up, and another that curves inward. Between them is a web of white metal designs.
The planters next to the stage are full of cacti and other Southern California plants.
The slanted white columns will also illuminate the grass space in front of the stage.
Another matching structure is at the end of the field.
This one is not a stage, but it has a similar roof on white columns.
Several tables and chairs were staged under the shade of the roof.
A few tables and chairs were already lined up next to the trees in the courtyard.
The structures seem to be those in the original Downtown Disney District reimagining concept art, although there have been changes to the plans since, like the slanted light columns.
Across from the new stage, fences surround an old Downtown Disney District stage.
Green tarps are rolled up at the top of the fences.
There were two scissor lifts next to the stage as crew members worked on it.
Parkside Market will also include Seoul Sister, Sip & Sonder, GG’s Chicken Shop, and a second story bar.
Other future plans for the District include Din Tai Fung, a world-renowned Chinese restaurant known for its soup dumplings and noodles; Mexican cuisine by Michelin-starred Chef Carlos Gaytán at Paseo and Céntrico; and the California-Cuban cheese rolls and pastries from Porto’s Bakery and Café.
This Downtown Disney District reimagining has been ongoing for the last few years; however, Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock announced this year an 18-month completion timeframe, which roughly sees the District embracing its fresh face by the end of 2024.
For more Disneyland Resort news and info, follow Disneyland News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news worldwide, visit WDWNT.