Comments on: National Street Vendor Conference http://www.foodcartsportland.com/2010/02/23/national-street-vendor-conference/ A Guide to Food Carts in Portland Oregon Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:26:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jesus Hermosillo http://www.foodcartsportland.com/2010/02/23/national-street-vendor-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-4242 Jesus Hermosillo Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:24:42 +0000 http://www.foodcartsportland.com/?p=2396#comment-4242 I don't have much info to share right now but it appears that, although it will be hosted by UCLA, the venue will be at their Downtown Labor Center. (not really downtown but near it, at MacArthur Park) I don’t have much info to share right now but it appears that, although it will be hosted by UCLA, the venue will be at their Downtown Labor Center. (not really downtown but near it, at MacArthur Park)

]]> By: Andy Silva http://www.foodcartsportland.com/2010/02/23/national-street-vendor-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-4024 Andy Silva Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:09:05 +0000 http://www.foodcartsportland.com/?p=2396#comment-4024 Cuisine Bonne Femme: That's huge, thanks! Cuisine Bonne Femme: That’s huge, thanks!

]]> By: chris murray http://www.foodcartsportland.com/2010/02/23/national-street-vendor-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-4015 chris murray Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:41:31 +0000 http://www.foodcartsportland.com/?p=2396#comment-4015 Andy We are interested in the National Street Vendor Conference but can not find any info, can you help? We would also like to come and meet with you all to talk about what we want to do here in Baton Rouge, would you or someone on your staff be willing to give us some first hand info? Thanks Chris Andy

We are interested in the National Street Vendor Conference but can not find any info, can you help?

We would also like to come and meet with you all to talk about what we want to do here in Baton Rouge, would you or someone on your staff be willing to give us some first hand info?

Thanks
Chris

]]> By: Andy Silva http://www.foodcartsportland.com/2010/02/23/national-street-vendor-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-4009 Andy Silva Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:40:40 +0000 http://www.foodcartsportland.com/?p=2396#comment-4009 word. word.

]]> By: Cuisine Bonne Femme http://www.foodcartsportland.com/2010/02/23/national-street-vendor-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-4008 Cuisine Bonne Femme Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:27:35 +0000 http://www.foodcartsportland.com/?p=2396#comment-4008 Hi Andy. Believe it or not we are a pretty friendly bunch out here. And yes, we have a booming food cart scene. We also have a really high unemployment, a lot of new people moving to the City, and rents aren't as cheap as say some cities in the midwest, NE or south. But certainly cheaper than Boston! I wouldn't say Portland is the best place for a new Pizza cart though, but who knows? New carts open all the time and do well, and the Pizza carts are doing well, and new restaurants keep opening all the time and many of them are doing well... But that said, there are some cities that have less food carts, but probably more of a demand. I'm thinking Seattle, Madison Wis, Austin, Texas. Even other cities with big college populations, farmers markets and good food culture such as Columbus, Ohio, Cincinatti, Cleveland, Chapel Hill North Carolina... Not sure about any others. You are asking a lot of technical questions here that require some detailed answers. Really, your best bet is to go to the Multnomah Country website http://www.co.multnomah.or.us/health/mchealthinspect/mfu.html . They have a mobile food unit information packet with most of the answers you are seeking. Or call 503-803-4000 to find out who at the City can help you. Hope this helps! Hi Andy. Believe it or not we are a pretty friendly bunch out here. And yes, we have a booming food cart scene. We also have a really high unemployment, a lot of new people moving to the City, and rents aren’t as cheap as say some cities in the midwest, NE or south. But certainly cheaper than Boston!

I wouldn’t say Portland is the best place for a new Pizza cart though, but who knows? New carts open all the time and do well, and the Pizza carts are doing well, and new restaurants keep opening all the time and many of them are doing well…

But that said, there are some cities that have less food carts, but probably more of a demand. I’m thinking Seattle, Madison Wis, Austin, Texas. Even other cities with big college populations, farmers markets and good food culture such as Columbus, Ohio, Cincinatti, Cleveland, Chapel Hill North Carolina… Not sure about any others.

You are asking a lot of technical questions here that require some detailed answers. Really, your best bet is to go to the Multnomah Country website http://www.co.multnomah.or.us/health/mchealthinspect/mfu.html . They have a mobile food unit information packet with most of the answers you are seeking.
Or call 503-803-4000 to find out who at the City can help you.

Hope this helps!

]]> By: j http://www.foodcartsportland.com/2010/02/23/national-street-vendor-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-3989 j Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:46:43 +0000 http://www.foodcartsportland.com/?p=2396#comment-3989 Stay put. Stay put.

]]> By: Andy http://www.foodcartsportland.com/2010/02/23/national-street-vendor-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-3986 Andy Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:32:28 +0000 http://www.foodcartsportland.com/?p=2396#comment-3986 Hello! If you've got the time, I've got a couple of questions for you regarding street food vending in Portland. I've got a product (a fairly unique approach to charcoal grilled pizza) that has worked well in the restaurant at which I'm the chef. It's a product that I'm very passionate about, and I'd consider leaving my little rock-club restaurant kitchen and the east coast hipsters behind behind to concentrate on making my product on a cart or trailer. Unlike many chefs, I actually enjoy working with the public and schmoozing while I work, so I think street cart work could be a lot of fun. Unfortunately, in the cities surrounding Boston (Somerville, Cambridge) where I'd be interested in setting up a cart to vend it, there are nearly insurmountable permiting, zoning and other financial hurdles to setting up a successful cart operation. Also, considering that a one bedroom apartment around here in a pretty horrible location starts at around $1100 (and the often dangerous and dirty public housing is at least a 3 year waiting list) makes you think twice about making any sort of financial gamble in this city. I had no idea that there was such a vibrant cart culture in Portland. Is the market totally saturated or do you think there's room for a new very high quality product at a very reasonable price? Are there strict regulations about where and what times you can set your business up? Are you required to prepare all of your food in a commercially zoned commissary or is a strictly home/cart operation permitted? I thank you in advance for your time! Hello! If you’ve got the time, I’ve got a couple of questions for you regarding street food vending in Portland. I’ve got a product (a fairly unique approach to charcoal grilled pizza) that has worked well in the restaurant at which I’m the chef. It’s a product that I’m very passionate about, and I’d consider leaving my little rock-club restaurant kitchen and the east coast hipsters behind behind to concentrate on making my product on a cart or trailer. Unlike many chefs, I actually enjoy working with the public and schmoozing while I work, so I think street cart work could be a lot of fun.

Unfortunately, in the cities surrounding Boston (Somerville, Cambridge) where I’d be interested in setting up a cart to vend it, there are nearly insurmountable permiting, zoning and other financial hurdles to setting up a successful cart operation. Also, considering that a one bedroom apartment around here in a pretty horrible location starts at around $1100 (and the often dangerous and dirty public housing is at least a 3 year waiting list) makes you think twice about making any sort of financial gamble in this city.

I had no idea that there was such a vibrant cart culture in Portland. Is the market totally saturated or do you think there’s room for a new very high quality product at a very reasonable price? Are there strict regulations about where and what times you can set your business up? Are you required to prepare all of your food in a commercially zoned commissary or is a strictly home/cart operation permitted? I thank you in advance for your time!

]]> By: Stefanie http://www.foodcartsportland.com/2010/02/23/national-street-vendor-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-3537 Stefanie Sat, 27 Feb 2010 07:28:07 +0000 http://www.foodcartsportland.com/?p=2396#comment-3537 Its a good thing its at UCLA and not USC that weekend - it's graduation weekend at USC (May 14 is the big day). If anyone plans on attending, do not spend too much time downtown/ near USC - the traffic will be extra special LA awful! Its a good thing its at UCLA and not USC that weekend – it’s graduation weekend at USC (May 14 is the big day). If anyone plans on attending, do not spend too much time downtown/ near USC – the traffic will be extra special LA awful!

]]> By: Cuisine Bonne Femme http://www.foodcartsportland.com/2010/02/23/national-street-vendor-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-3421 Cuisine Bonne Femme Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:46:13 +0000 http://www.foodcartsportland.com/?p=2396#comment-3421 Thanks Magda - UCLA noted and correction made. Thanks Magda – UCLA noted and correction made.

]]> By: Magda http://www.foodcartsportland.com/2010/02/23/national-street-vendor-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-3408 Magda Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:40:54 +0000 http://www.foodcartsportland.com/?p=2396#comment-3408 Good tip. The conference is actually at UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles) and not USC (University of Southern California.) Good tip. The conference is actually at UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles) and not USC (University of Southern California.)

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