The empty restaurant spaces in downtown Kansas City could take inspiration from an unconventional plan to breathe life into a New York City landmark.
The Wall Street Journal broke the news that the New York City Parks and Recreation Department will be seeking bids for four food carts on the patio at Tavern on the Green. The hope is that carts will generate revenue from the iconic restaurant space, which had been a must-stop for tourists and residents until it closed on January 1 of this year.
So, let's take the New York City model and apply it right here in Kansas City. The empty gallery space near 20th and Main becomes a prime spot for an ambitious caterer or street cart vendor on First Fridays. The same could be said for Southwest Boulevard, where more options like the walk-up window at Ricos Taco Lupe (802 Southwest Boulevard) are needed.
Westport (sadly) has no shortage of vacant spaces. Street carts could draw people to forgotten spaces as well as generate a bit of rent for landlords currently struggling to find tenants. Moreover it might allow both established chefs and those new to the business to test out potential restaurant concepts with a neighborhood as a real-time focus group.
I could even see exclusives advertised by Twitter like a secret Christopher Elbow chocolate tasting or a festival license being used to set up a one-night wine tasting from Cellar Rat. Start thinking outside of the indoor kitchen Kansas City chefs. You've got plenty of vacant patios as your canvas.
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I'm not to sure of the rules and regulations in Kansas City on food carts either but I definitely would like to find out. So if anyone has the info and does not mind sharing that would be greatly appreciated. I really, really am wanting to start up a food cart somewhere in the local Kansas City area myself and/or with a partner. Come on KC let's get the vibrant food cart scene going here,we need it!!
I am in the process of starting a sandwich vending cart up in zona rosa located in North Kansas City MO. What permits & licenses do I need to obtain & from where? Any friendly advice for a chef out on a limb?
Good points are made here, but I think that this is something that has been on the minds of many chefs in KC lately. However, all of the rules and regulations governing the presence of food carts in Kansas City are restrictive at best. Until they are relaxed and redrawn, Kansas City simply can't encourage a vibrant street food culture like the aforementioned cities.
Austin and Portland have great programs for street carts. http://austinfoodcarts.com/ lists many of them for example. I am sure the city's zoning code has obstacles hopefully get cleared up as well.
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