The first two licenses for mobile food vending in Minneapolis have been issued, and several more of the 13 applications to date are on deck for approval, city officials said Monday.
TWO SHACKS APPROVED
Chef Shack will operate at 509 Hennepin Av., and separately owned Smack Shack will be at N. 4th Street and 1st Avenue N. Both are parking lot sites. Chef Shack, which offers seasonal local foods, could begin operating Tuesday, depending on clearance from health officials. Smack Shack is expected to open early next month.
"We were excited. Super excited," Carrie Summer, a partner in Chef Shack, said.
NEXT IN THE FOODLINE
The Original Turkey (S. 8th St. and Nicollet Mall) and Dandelion Kitchen (Nicollet Mall at IDS Center or Neiman Marcus) are expected to be approved in the next few days, provided they agree to license conditions.
THE BACK STORY
The City Council this spring expanded mobile food vending beyond the pushable food carts traditionally seen downtown. The new vendors will have self-contained vans or trailers in which they prepare food. Because the vehicles are larger, downtown interests expressed concern about their effect on sidewalks for which property owners are assessed, and public works officials must sign off on locations.
Meanwhile, Council Member Lisa Goodman, who sponsored the change, has been impatient for the new food sellers to hit the streets. City licensing officials were caught in the middle.
STEVE BRANDT
