City Announces New Vending Carts for Market Square

The City of Alexandria has announced five winners of its pilot program to offer food via vending carts in Market Square beginning this summer. The winners are Bread and Chocolate, Columbia Firehouse, Fontaine, Grape and Bean and Union Street Public House.

The vendors will serve patrons on Market Square from Apr. 1 through Oct. 31, Monday through Sunday. On Saturdays, the vendors will begin service around 1 p.m, after the farmer's market in Market Square clears out.

The city had hoped to launch with eight vendors in the program but "we only had five applicants and they were five strong applicants," Barbara Ross of the Planning and Zoning Department told Patch.

If the program is successful, the concept could be expanded to Ben Brenman Park, the Carlyle area surrounding the Patent and Trademark Office and Del Ray.

Ross said at a vendor information meeting earlier this year that the program will be viewed as successful if the vendor restaurants can make money, if the vendors don't become a major money drain on nearby restaurants by siphoning off their business and if the plaza is kept clean and managed properly.

The applicants had to represent an established Old Town restaurant. To apply, a potential vendor must have a business plan, obtain a separate vending cart Health Department permit and possibly a fire prevention permit.  

The city is still seeking applicants to fill the three additional vending cart spaces, and interested businesses are encourage to apply. For more information, contact Barbara Ross, deputy director of administration and land use services at the Department of Planning and Zoning, at 703-746-4666, or visitwww.alexandriava.gov/VendorCarts.