D.C.’s annual food festival at Union Market, The Emporiyum, has new owners who are ready to take the event on the move. Hannah Colclazier Hudson and Stuart Hudson, who live in the nearby H Street Corridor, bought the brand this summer.

The fifth D.C. version of The Emporiyum, slated for this Saturday and Sunday with a VIP reception on Friday night, will host food vendors from “the West Coast, the middle and the East Coast,” Hudson says, with about 60 percent of the 90 vendors from the D.C. area—“a purposeful percentage,” he explains.

“We want to give love to people locally and to give others an opportunity, too,” says Colclazier Hudson.

The native Oklahomans, both 33, met working on the Hill more than 12 years ago and have been married for four years. The couple purchased The Emporiyum in June from its founders, Sue-Jean Chun and Mindy Shapiro, for an undisclosed amount. After this fall’s D.C. event and an Emporiyum next spring in Baltimore, where the original founders launched in 2014, the couple says they will begin their expansion plans. They’re mum on details, but have cities in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic in their sights first, followed by expanding to the Southeast.

“We had been looking for something to build together and create together,” Hudson says.

Neither are strangers to the food industry. Until 2017, Colclazier Hudson was creative director for Edible DC and continues to work as a professional photographer. Hudson, an attorney, grew up in the food industry—his father is the CEO of Sonic Drive-In. The couple says The Emporiyum gets them more involved in the community.

“Plus the creative element,” Hudson says.“Food is something we are both … passionate about and it’s hard not to be with the food scene in D.C. growing as it is.”

So what does it mean to buy an event brand? First and foremost, it does not mean buying the vendors, though most of last year’s vendors did apply to come back for 2018. “In essence, we bought good will,” says Hudson.

“We bought the reputation and the unique concept,” adds Colclazier Hudson. “The name itself is only as important as the feelings of the public, the vendors, the contractors, etc. have towards that name.”

The curated marketplace of vendors includes food artisans and restaurant-based chefs who will be selling everything from “food-adjacent” take away gifts, packaged food items, and prepared dishes and drinks that can be enjoyed on-site.

If you went to The Emporiyum last year, it will look different this year—and not because there are new owners. Sixty percent of this year’s vendors are new this year. “It’s important so that every Emporiyum looks different,” says Colclazier Hudson.

Some brand-new stand outs this year include…

Ajwa Delicacies – Baltimore

This company from Iraq-born Arwa Mustafa specializes in candy boxes of dates that are stuffed with nuts, sprinkled with spices, or drizzled with chocolate. The Emporiyum’s new owners say they have included this vendor not only because it’s a delicious and beautiful product with a “high level of creative talent driven by connection to cultural roots,” says Colclazier Hudson, but also because [Ajwa’s is] a beautiful story. According to the Ajwa Delicacies website, the company donates “a portion of the proceeds from every Ajwa box towards helping women and children refugees like ourselves.”

Iron Made Paffles – Charlottesville

“When we heard about Iron Made Paffles, we jumped in the car and drove down to Charlottesville to check them out,” says Colclazier Hudson. These sandwiches start with puff pastry baked on waffle irons and stuffed with sweet and savory fillings like sausage and egg, turkey and avocado, or blueberry compote and whipped cream.

Petit Pot –  San Francisco

The French have been enjoying the creamy custard pot de crème for years. Petit Pot’s sold-in-a-jar version is naturally gluten-free, made with organic ingredients, and includes a vegan offering. “We knew they would be a great fit because they are bringing something new to the scene,” says Colclazier Hudson.

Republic Cantina – D.C.

“We love Tex-Mex,” says Colclazier Hudson. “They had us at two words…’proper queso’… and will be serving up Frito chili pies among other things.” This new restaurant from the team behind Republic Kolache is set to open in Truxton Circle this year.

Undercover Quinoa – East Hanover, New Jersey

Launched by a stay-at-home mother in 2016, these chocolate-coated crispy quinoa snacks (kind of like Rice Krispies Treats) is now sold in 500 stores and is going global. “Once we had one bite, we wanted to finish the whole bag,” says Hudson. “It’s the perfect snack, which is what we’re all about. Quinoa and just the right amount of high-quality chocolate.”

The Emporiyum takes place at Dock 5 at Union Market, Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tickets $15-$40 per day, $80 for all-access pass. Preview party Friday 6 p.m.-8 p.m., $50

This story has been updated to reflect that this is the fifth Emporiym, and that Hudson’s father is the CEO of Sonic Drive-In.