Midtown Lunch

Speaking of street vendor wars, two ML commenters pointed me towards these two articles.  Last week AMNY posted this story about how Mister Softee is trying to crack down on all the imitators (trucks with names like “Mister Soft, Mister Soft Freeze and Mr. Softee”.)  And for those who thought vendors were only limited to those selling unhealthy snacks, NYT’s City Room Blog has this report about two feuding fruit stands in Hell’s Kitchen. And from the sounds of it, they have more than each other to contend with.  The Food Emporium they are parked in front of wants both of them gone.

I don’t know about you guys, but one of my favorite parts of that “Turf War at the Hot Dog Cart” article in the New York Times a few weeks back (the one about the infighting between street vendors) was the super cool Elwood Smith cartoon of all the fighting carts. I feel like it sums up so much of what’s going on in the Midtown Lunch world of street carts… but in a fun way that I thought would look awesome on my wall. In fact, I emailed the artist to see if he was selling prints, and he is! For just $50 you can actually own your own copy of the piece (it’s 12.25 x 9″).

Elwood is a really well known humorous illustrator, whose work you might recognize from Time, Newsweek, the New York Times, and Wall Street Journal. You can read more about the cartoon on his blog at Dawger.  And for information on how to purchase a print email  info@elwoodsmith.com (I think I’m going to put mine in my kid‘s room.  Is that wrong?)

Related:
NYT Cartoon Begs the Question: Is There a “Clam Roll” Cart in NYC?
New York Times Turns Giant Eye Towards the Street Vendor Issue

Since the city arrested those guys involved in the vendor permit black market, and vowed to crack down on the vendors using illegally obtained permits, it’s no surprise that the Street Vendor Project issued this statement yesterday supporting the actions, while calling for the city to increase the number of permits offered ever year. (There is a bill being debated by the City Council now.)

“More than 9,000 New Yorkers are eager to be sidewalk chefs, but there are no food-vending permits available – so instead they’re languishing on a waiting list, hoping to secure one of about a dozen permits that free up every year.

The city only allows 3100 pushcart peddlers to sell curbside cuisine. By setting the cap far below vendor supply and public demand, the city unintentionally creates a thriving and exploitive black market, where aspiring vendors “rent” permits from illegal middlemen for more than $8,000. Other vendors are driven underground, where they’re unlicensed and unregulated.”

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I know this particular article isn’t about Midtown, but we’ve seen this same thing before- and will probably be seeing it again soon.  The New York Daily News is reporting that local business owners in Bay Ridge are seeking to have street vendors banned from 5th Avenue. The store owners, who pay up to $160,000 a year in rent,  are saying it is unfair that these street vendors are getting a free ride. And “Burger King owner Jay Syed, 56, said not only has he lost 20% of his business since the carts cropped up last summer, but he also believes the vendors are polluting the streets and attracting rodents.”  (I love the irony of a Burger King owner being concerned about pollution.)

A letter was written to Mayor Bloomberg and the matter is now being taken up by the neighborhood Community Board and the Small Business Services Department.  If they do end up banning the vendors, it could set a dangerous precedent that could spread to other neighborhoods… including Midtown. [New York Daily News]

See All Midtown Lunch Posts Related to Street Vendor Issues

I’ve been wanting somebody to write this article ever since the Treats Truck was first intimidated by the Mister Softee truck on 45th & 6th back in 2007.  It took almost two years, but it was well worth the wait. The New York Times has devoted a huge article in today’s food section to all the craziness happening in the street food scene these days, and it’s all in there- from the threats received by the Treats Truck and the Rickshaw Dumpling Truck, to the trials and tribulations of the Street Sweets Truck.  The piece also mentions the NYC Cravings Truck and Wafels and Dinges, and touches on how the bad economy has created a glut of new street vendors (and the problems this could end up causing as more continue to pop up.)  Even the Steak Truck (on 47th & Park) gets mentioned- surprisingly they are not bothered at all by the new La Cense Burger Truck parked just one block away.

But the best part is the shout out that the Midtown Lunchers got!

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This morning Lunch’er Lee sends this update on the whole Hot Dog Carts vs. Street Sweets truck showdown on Friday:

I took another picture of the Street Sweets Truck at the end of the day when I left work (about 6pm). Looks like they sorted out whatever they needed to. What I find interesting, is that the space where all the hot dog vendors were parked at 9am, became the space where all the art vendors set up during the day. I think Street Sweets may be on to a truly symbiotic relationship by creating an impromptu coffee/art space, which, we can all agree, makes more sense than a hot dog/art space!

I love it.  Although a coffee/art situation could theoretically compete with the cafe inside MOMA, leading them to “pull a Bistro Milano” and call the cops. Clearly the truck worked something out with the hot dog vendors: Street Sweets is back on 53rd btw. 5+6th today.

Related:
Hot Dog Vendors Gang Up on the Street Sweets Truck
Will the Street Sweets Truck Ever Learn?
The Man Wins: Street Sweets Forced to Find Another Spot

Urgh.  What did I say on Wednesday? This just in from Lunch’er Lee:

“Just went by the Street Sweets Truck and 4 hot dog carts set up in their spot on 53rd btwn 5th and 6th at 9am. Not to beat a dead horse, but how could selling croissants and coffee possibly cut into hot dog cart business? They sell crappy hot dogs and prepackaged beef patties? Total horsesh*t, now I don’t have a cup of coffee and I am tired.”

I think it’s easy to turn against the hot dog vendors in front of MOMA but look at things from their perspective.

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