Even though Seattle is the greatest city in the country, it does have some peculiarities that make it lacking in some areas. One of these areas is a vibrant street food culture.
Dog Japon in Downtown Seattle this past Saturday
In most large cities, street vendors are part of the landscape; a landscape that really helps add to the “energy” of the streets. Seattle, however, only has a few street vendors (such as Dog Japon), and they are rarely bustling with customers.
A new proposal aims to change that:
“A proposal aims to make Seattle more street food friendly. The Seattle City Council will soon consider an initiative that aims to bring more food trucks and carts into Seattle neighborhoods; however, some restaurant owners don’t like the idea.
Under the proposal, food vendors would be able to sell food along roadways in areas approved by the city. That’s different from the current set up which has food truck owners working out lease agreements with property owners in order to have a place to sell their food.
Another change under the proposal would allow food cart owners to expand their menus from the popcorn, hot dogs, coffee and flowers they are allowed to sell now …”
Read the Full Story: http://www.king5.com/news/local/Proposal-to-make-Seattle-more-Street-Food-friendly-119763919.html
In my opinion, this would be a marvelous idea, but not everyone agrees.
“At Charlie’s Bar and Grill in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, owner Ken Bauer said he is concerned an increase in food vendors will mean an increase in trash for the area. Bauer does not want food truck patrons using his restrooms. He also said more food service is not needed in the area because a wide variety of food is already being sold, and he is concerned more competition could hurt business.”
Lame.
Anyone who opposes competition because they fear it will hurt their own business is incredibly selfish. I understand that competition puts some fear and uncertainty into the competitors, which is natural, but I can’t believe that Bauer made this statement knowing he was going to be quoted in the local media. It’s embarrassing. That type of insecurity is something you should keep under your hat. For a neighborhood and its people, nothing could be better than competition. Especially competition among small, self-owned businesses.
If you are a good business, one with great quality, great service, and great prices … you’ll thrive in a competitive marketplace. If you want the market cornered, open your business in Centralia, not the residential center of the northwest’s largest city.
In any event, you can keep up with the latest street vending developments here:
While I don’t mind the food trucks, the hipster craze of food trucks is really getting on my nerves. They fucking love the things.
I keep hearing of food truck rodeos and meetups. I am sure the food is great, but I am not sure it is better than food I find anywhere else.
I support the vendors and I hope once the hipster fad goes away they can still keep business going.
Food trucks beyond roach coaches (packaged food / no food prep allowed inside the truck) are also banned in Chicago. Restaurant owners here give the same lame excuses (we have to pay rent, yada yada yada). I was surprised governments out East allow food trucks (DC, NYC, Boston, Philly, etc.). I’m not sure how sanitary the food prep would be but then again I’m not convinced it would be measurably different than a “bricks and mortar” restaurant.
Fortunately for you, your city council appears willing to debate and vote on this measure.
WSJ news article on our lame law: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704008704575638842201629742.html
Why are politicians in Seattle and Vancouver (who seem to alternate sharing the brain cell) insist on turning succesful cities into third world ghettos? Street meat, bike lanes, and backyard chickens – wtf, are we living in Dhaka?