Founder and owner of Twin Cities Photo Bus Ashley Zapata-Palmer talks with visitors at the Local Love Market Sunday afternoon. “I created this business to expand my world view of how amazing individual people are.” Zapata-Palmer said. | Photo by Vivienne Paulson

Time capsule on wheels

A small business owner and her retro photo bus draws a crowd at the final Local Love Market of the year.

By Vivienne Paulson | Reporter

Ashley Zapata-Palmer, 32, parked her burnt orange 1973 Volkswagen bus next to a checkered patchwork of canopies Sunday morning. While dozens of vendors offered lightly worn statement pieces, candles made of butter, and jewelry that lasts forever, Zapata-Palmer and her retro-styled photo booth was a magnet for the biggest smiles and the longest line.

*“Other vendors wanted you to buy something. Ashley wanted to talk. She made me feel part of the community.” — Emanuela Wahyu, University of Minnesota student*

The Local Love Market, hosted at Honour Coffee in Northeast Minneapolis, held its final pop-up of the year from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Of the 98 parking spots, few were open on the first pass of the crowded lot.

“Other vendors wanted you to buy something,” fourth-year University of Minnesota development psychology student Emanuela Wyhu said. “Ashley wanted to talk. She made me feel part of the community.”

Zapata-Palmer, founder and owner of Twin Cities Photo Bus, greeted a steady line of families, couples, and college students, each waiting their turn to step inside the traveling time capsule. Flash after flash. Pose after pose. Everyone in line left with a printed memory.

She launched her business in 2019 with no prior experience running a photo booth or driving the manual-transmission bus, which she named Delores. She taught herself how to operate both after studying film at Bethel University and pursuing a wedding photography career.

At one of her first market events, she ran out of photo strip paper. A lesson she won’t forget.

“It was just an absolute nightmare, because I had just a line of people who wanted to use the bus, and I let my panic get the best of me,” Zapata-Palmer said.

Now, she always brings extra paper.

Among the crowd was Lula Mohammed, 26, who came with her two childhood friends. They each spent $5 at the photo bus to capture proof of another moment from their friendship. Mohammed admired how the earthy palette that made up the interior of the bus felt cozy and nostalgic. The wooden floor boards and floral seat covers reminded them of That ’70s Show, a television series that brought them comfort after an exhausting day at school.

Ashley Zapata-Palmer’s photo booth set up inside her 1973 Volkswagen bus parked at Honour Coffee’s parking lot Sunday afternoon. Zapata-Palmer created this photo bus as “another way to get people printed photos for their refrigerators or Christmas cards.” Zapata-Palmer said | Photo by Vivienne Paulson

“It’s very innovative,” Mohammed said with a warm photo strip in her hand.” Seeing someone our age build something from scratch is inspiring.”

*“Even though I do love it, I have a lot of other goals that I need to expand on.” — Ashley Zapata-Palmer, vendor.*

Zapata-Palmer said she makes building a community part of her mission. Zapata-Palmer and Delores have worked at more than 30 markets in the past four years. She plans to recruit part-time employees to expand her business for future events.

“Even though I do love it, I have a lot of other goals that I need to expand on.” Zapata-Palmer said.

In May 2024, CBS News reported Zapata-Palmer and her husband, John, turned to a community yard sale to help raise money after years of struggling to start a family. They hope to adopt from South Africa through All God’s Children International, after falling in love with the country and its culture. The South Minneapolis garage sale raised more than $2,500.

For the small business owner, markets like these are about more than business.

“Every event gets us closer,” Zapata-Palmer said.

Local Love Market visitors leave Ashley Zapata-Palmer’s photo bus after getting their photos taken Sunday afternoon. | Photo by Vivienne Paulson

Twin Cities Photo Bus at the Local Love Market

• Who: Ashley Zapata-Palmer, 32, founder and owner of Twin Cities Photo Bus
• What: Local Love Market pop-up event featuring handmade goods and retro photo booth inside Zapata-Palmer’s 1973 Volkswagen bus.
• When: Oct. 19, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Where: Honour Coffee Northeast parking lot.
• Why it matters: To support Minnesota small business owners and build community connections.