Food Carts Approved For All Of Mpls

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) –- After a successful year of mobile food vending in Minneapolis, mobile food vendors will now be able to operate outside of downtown, move to different locations and sell food curbside.

The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved a proposal to expand mobile food vending Friday, allowing mobile food vendors, restaurant owners and entrepreneurs to sell food throughout the city.

"These changes are making it possible for more entrepreneurs to start mobile food businesses, while also bringing food trucks to more parts of the city and increasing the vitality of our neighborhoods and streets," said city council member Lisa Goodman, whose ward includes downtown.

Some city council members suspect that the number of mobile food vendors in the city will double.

Last year, mobile food vendors were committed to permanent locations. Now they will be able to sell food from the street provided that they follow parking regulations and pay parking meter fees. A list of preapproved parking places for mobile food vending can be found here.

This change will make it so that vendors can sell food on streets like Lake Street, where the sidewalks are too narrow for a truck, city council member Gary Schiff said.

Restaurants interested in operating a mobile food vehicle will need to send an application to the city describing the plans for their vehicle and a proposed location.

Mobile food vendors will be required to operate for a minimum of 150 days and are prohibited from selling food curbside within 100 yards of a café or restaurant with direct access to the sidewalk.