Following a series of violent late night events in the Short North last month, mobile food vending was ceased as one way to prevent crowds from lingering in the neighborhood following the closure of bars. That ban on food carts and trucks is being lifted, but with some new rules.
The Columbus Department of Public Safety issued a release earlier today, informing the public that limited locations will be made available for mobile food operations on a first come first serve basis throughout both the Short North and University District areas. The updates follow a review and update to the Columbus city code on the matter.
“One provision of the new code was the implementation of a reserved public right of way program to manage the density, placement and number of mobile food carts in the Short North,” stated the release, addressed from Assistant Director of the Department of Public Safety, Glenn McEntyre. “There was a deliberate and multi-layered process to identify and select locations in the Short North and additional locations in the University District along the N. High Street congestion zone, which included the Departments of Public Safety and Public Service, the Mobile Food Vending Advisory Board and community input through their district associations.”
Zach James, President of the Central Ohio Food Truck Association (the group that penned a Letter to the Editor on this topic two weeks ago), pushed back on the idea that these new steps were taken in response to violence in the neighborhood.
“Rather, this new pilot reflects the implementation of the May 2023 updates to city code chapter 573, addressing mobile food, vending, citywide, as well as the continuing work of the Columbus mobile food advisory board, which has established a space for dialogue between industry, stakeholders, the community at large, and city officials from all branches of government,” explained James. “While this continues to be a work in progress, The Central Ohio Food Truck Association is optimistic at the results this new program will yield, not only for the vendors involved, but for the residents and community members that have a vested interest in these areas.”
The new rules go into effect this weekend, and will be in place for weekend operations, Friday through Sunday.
“We are pleased that safer opportunities for mobile food vendor operations are now available in the Short North and appreciate the diligence of the City of Columbus to be able to implement plans that eliminate congestion in certain high-traffic areas,” stated Betsy Pandora, Executive Director of the Short North Alliance.
Mobile food vendors interested in taking part in the process can go to Streetfoodfinder.com to sign up.