@BlogKCChuck Eddy’s committee is moving forward with new rules regulating street vendors and cafeteria trucks. Several vendor zones are already being set up in Downtown’s government and convention districts. $1,000 permits for the prime spots outside Bartle Hall are being considered. There is also rule keeping the vendors at least 50 feet from restaurants. That rule is largely directed at Chilli Shack owner John DiCapo, who was a chief instigator in Cartgate and continues to complain about any competition from the hot dog carts.
So far the committee is still focusing on Downtown, but Westport, the Plaza, and Zona Rosa are also likely to see some of the same regulations. The 50 feet rule could be especially tricky in Westport and perhaps the Plaza, where the restaurants are much denser than Downtown.
I have worked downtown at 11th and Oak for over 6 years. The street food vendors were there long before the city parking garage was built. If the street vendors are such a detriment to DiCapo’s business, maybe he should have done a little better business planning in regards to where he chose to lease space.
DiCapo likes to quote how much he had to invest in his restaurant, and that the street vendors are at an advantage due to lower overhead. If the street vendor’s business’ have such a huge advantage, why didn’t he buy a concession truck instead of leasing overpriced, city-owned real-estate? I don’t hear the street vendors whining because his location offers protection from the elements, a place to sit down and eat, and the ability to sell beer. I didn’t hear the owners of Subway cry a river when a Quizno’s opened up directly accross the street. Apparently, DiCapo is the only downtown restauranteur that can’t run a successful business without demanding city regulatory intervention.
I frequently buy food from the street vendors, but I have not been in the “Shack” since DiCapo started his whining, and I have no reason to go back. His chili is decent, but the rest of the menu is lame and overpriced. I can get chili that’s just as good, and cheaper, up the street at Dunk’s Deli.
I totally agree. Let people eat where they want to. I had thought about trying out the Shack, but I won’t now. I doubt that the street vendors are getting rich at his expense. And if they are, then they know something he doesn’t, and they deserve to.
what you’all don’t know is that i was told by edgar jordan who is the director of the city planning department that once we opened the carts would be moved away.
if i knew the carts were going to be allowed i would have located the chili shack in a different location as would the folks that own kfc/pizza hut.
that would have left the carts, subay and quiznos.
if that’s what you want your close to getting your wish.
i paid over $12,000 in sales tax last year.
how much did the carts pay?
are you concerned about folks following the law or are you just concerned with getting a cheap lunch?
if you don’t agree with my views you don’t have to enjoy my tamales, tacos, chili or 1/4lb. kosher hot dogs but that doesn’t give a person the right to fax me a threatnig letter from the jackson county finance department. i’ve also had my door broken 3 times at a repair cost of over $400 per occurance. i’ve made police reports on all this crimes and none have been investigated. what’s up?
jim ‘s famous hot tamales has had a cart on ther corner of 15th and cleveland for over 44 years. 2 years ago a new gas station/wendy’s was build across the street from where jim had sold tamales from his pushcart for generations.
the city put up no parking signs and made jim move off the public street. he now rents space in a parking lot from a private individual. do you feel that’s fair?