FARGO (KFGO/KVRR) – This piece will share concerns from the city and food vendors worried about their financial futures if forced to move.
Fargo food vendors are worried about their financial futures if forced to move due to city concerns over noise downtown.
Food trucks are a popular spot after bars and clubs close at night. The plans, which are still being discussed, could limit their hours after 10 PM or force them to move from downtown altogether.
“The customers are good, but the complaints are, yes, it is a lot of homeless people that sit in front of my business and stuff like that, and I feel that affects me a little bit. Other than that, I do feed them too,” said Terry Cotton, Pick-A-Bob.
“I think it’s kind of backwards to kill the nightlife or to blame the food vendors for people’s choices to drink alcohol, and the noise the food vendors we’re not the cause of people wanting to drive loud motorcycles or loud vehicles,” said Torail Boxley, Bomb Dogs.
The city says these plans are more focused on limiting crime and noise from street performers; as a result, food trucks are caught in the mix.
Terry Cotton, the owner of Pick-A-Bob, is in his second year of business. He’s usually posted up downtown on Broadway from the afternoon until 11 at night on the weekends.
“I like it down here. It’s very convenient for us; it’s a lot of people, a lot of foot traffic and stuff like that,” said Cotton.
“He says many of these vendors have been downtown for years working to build their brands with the community, and if they’re forced to move, it could be hard for people to find them, which could result in some of them closing,” said Cotton.
“We pretty tight around here. We conversate, we express our ideas amongst each other, you know. I hope it doesn’t happen that we have to move cause that’ll be a big heartbreak for me and my family you know,” said Cotton.
City reps say more information could be released after the next city council meeting.
