street vendors find walkability downtown
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Slowly but steadily, as bright new storefronts soften Downtown’s once harsh streetscape, streams of pedestrians are taking notice to the changes — and so are those who make a living selling to them.
Street vendors who might otherwise set up shop on Alvarado, Western or Broadway are spreading out to other areas of Downtown to capture some of the newfound foot traffic, and with it comes an urban essence our central city has lacked for decades.
Carts flagged with those familiar rainbow umbrellas dispensing fresh fruit and bacon-wrapped hot dogs to hungry passersby have become welcomed sidewalk fixtures in recent weeks — posting daily on 7th Street in front of Macy’s Plaza, along Wilshire in City West, and in South Park near Grand Hope Park.
Though these quick-eat stations may differ from the authentic streetside NYC dining experience, they offer a unique-to-LA twist to the traditional hot dog and mark an important milestone in the continuing evolution of our neighborhood’s appeal. And at $2-$3 a pop, they provide a cheap alternative to our pricey restaurant scene.
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11 comments
Sigh. I miss the bacon-wrapped hot dogs.
I hope these street vendors have business a license, health department permits, and pay city taxes. There are a lot of un-licensed street vendors in this city. It’s not a fair situation when most LA businesses have to follow the rules, and pay their taxes while others get away with running illegal businesses.
Considering bacon-wrapped hot dogs aren’t allowed per LA County health laws, I’m sure they’re not “legal.” But I’ll still take another bacon-wrapped hot dog, please. Extra everything.
rich, aren’t you a vegetarian?
Agreed, Rich - and I knew this issue would come up.
There’s already a bureaucratic choke-hold on business proliferation in this city. I say let ‘em be… I love walking by them on my way home in the evenings.
Was* a vegetarian. Never drive down 6th Street in K-Town while you’re hungry. I was done in by all-you-can-eat bulgogi.
Rich, where do you suggest for all-you-can-eat bulgogi? Yum.
David, Soot Bull Gui Rim #2 on Vermont just north of 3rd is awesome… so is Soot Bull Gui Rim (#1) on 6th just west of Western.
I’m a huge fan of a cart on Broadway that serves their bacon wrapped hot dogs with homemade quac. I hope that spreads.
I have a delicate and sensitive stomach now so i won’t even go near any hot dog (though the smell is sure inviting) or sliced fruit street vendor cart.
I use to when i lived in NYC. Now I don’t think the stomach ache is worth it! I know it can also happen in a sit down/regular restaurant, but the odds are lower I think, hope.
And I can only imagine what they do when they need to go to the restroom..lemonade anyone? just kidding.
They’d make a mint if they also sold individual doses of Immodium, Pepto-Bismol and Tums.
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