For now, B次元官网网址淧eppermanB次元官网网址� is little more than a moniker Kelly Powers uses for his email address. But one day soon, he hopes to become The Pepperman: owner of a food cart dubbed PeppermanB次元官网网址檚 Grill.
Through social media, the Winnipeg man recently caught wind of Coun. Lisa HelpsB次元官网网址� push to loosen regulations around mobile food vendors in Victoria B次元官网网址� a city with a longer outdoor business season than his locale. It prompted him to action.
Last week he and his wife, Theresa, flew here to scope out the scene and network with local food producers.
B次元官网网址淎ll the veggies, all the fruits B次元官网网址� chicken, free range B次元官网网址� I want to go as local as possible,B次元官网网址� Powers explained to Helps at a coffee shop meeting last Wednesday morning.
HeB次元官网网址檚 already got his menu meticulously planned. But a few factors stand in his way, such as the practicalities of relocating and more importantly, a city rule that stipulates portable food carts must be located on private property.
B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檙e allowed to park in more spaces, then you can be mobile,B次元官网网址� Theresa said.
Helps hopes to change the bylaws to create more space for such entrepreneurial upstarts.
Following the lead of Vancouver, which opened the door to food carts on public property in June 2010, Helps advocates a summertime pilot project, whereby the city designates a type of outdoor food court on municipal property.
Her vision is to place it on the waterfront parking lot below Wharf Street near Bastion Square.
B次元官网网址淚t would be a really great space,B次元官网网址� Helps said. B次元官网网址淚t doesnB次元官网网址檛 mean getting rid of all the parking spots, because people will freak out about that, but allocating 10 (parking) spots.B次元官网网址�
The pilot would accomplish two things, she said.
First, it would support a type of small business thatB次元官网网址檚 in demand by both budding entrepreneurs like Powers and customers, as evidenced by the long lineups for Red Fish Blue Fish, a vendor based on the dock below the foot of Broughton Street.
Second, the pilot would add vibrancy to a sadly undervalued city asset. While everyone agrees itB次元官网网址檚 a travesty to park cars on prime city waterfront, previous attempts to rezone the lot were mired in controversy and ultimately failed.
A food cart pilot project, on the other hand, requires no infrastructure, no capital and can be reversed if it proves unpopular, argued Helps.
But of course, food carts are not without their own controversy.
Back in the 1990s, the City of Victoria licensed food carts on Government Street, but concerns from the restaurant industry contributed to the cancellation of the program.
Today, some concerns still exist.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about trying to maintain some kind of level playing field for the business,B次元官网网址� said Liz da Mata, owner of The Reef restaurant and director of the B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association.
B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e got to make sure that the (food cart) licensing isnB次元官网网址檛 so much easier and cheaper that youB次元官网网址檙e penalizing the brick-and-mortar standup shops.B次元官网网址�
Location is also sensitive: you canB次元官网网址檛 have a pizza truck across the street from a pizza restaurant, she said, giving an example.
Da Mata, however, isnB次元官网网址檛 down on food carts.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 positives and negatives, no doubt,B次元官网网址� she said, adding they add vibrancy to the downtown, which helps everyone if done fairly.
The Reef has its own food cart, which operates at festivals, and da Mata has watched the cart drive traffic to her restaurant. B次元官网网址淭hat is the way of the future. I see a lot of the food trucks becoming offshoots of the brick-and-mortar.B次元官网网址�
Da Mata would like to operate her cart to serve the daily lunch crowd, but wonB次元官网网址檛 pursue it until the regulations change.
Prime private locations are few, and most are taken, she said.
Next month, city council will vote on HelpsB次元官网网址� motion. The Wharf Street parking lot, however, isnB次元官网网址檛 the only possible location for the pilot. City staff have suggested other possibilities, such as along Dallas Road.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 my dream location,B次元官网网址� said Paulina Tokarski, the former owner of a Polish deli who recently opened the Hungry Rooster food truck.
Her operation, in a parking lot on Courtney Street, often buzzes with business workers at lunch time.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 lucky,B次元官网网址� she said of securing her spot B次元官网网址� for which she pays $175 per month.
B次元官网网址淭here isnB次元官网网址檛 anything else in town. IB次元官网网址檝e looked everywhere.B次元官网网址�
Why stop at food?
When shoeshiner got kicked off her Fort Street location last week, Helps took her side.
Helps would like to see not just food carts, but many types of street vending allowed on city property, including services such as shoeshining or possibly even product sales. The city recently loosened its regulations to allow buskers to start selling related products, such as CDs.
Since the extensive media coverage of GoodsonB次元官网网址檚 situation, several private property owners have offered her space. As of Monday, she was leaning toward an offer by Street Level Espresso, near her old spot on Fort Street.
Did you know?
There are still a few small food carts operating on Government Street, a relic from the 1990s. The businesses have been grandfathered. Food carts can also get permission to set up shop on privately-owned city easements, as long as the easement isn't intended for pedestrian passage.
Street eats in Vancouver
In June 2010, Vancouver launched a food-cart pilot program, which is now being expanded to include parks. The City of Vancouver calls out to citizens to help select the businesses. Check out the municipally-operated website, dedicated to all things food cart: .
rholmen@vicnews.com
