Kensington-born Food Vendor Wins 'Most Heroic' Vendy Award

A Halal food cart vendor who stood up to neighborhood restaurant owners who wanted him gone, has been named the 2012 “Most Heroic Vendor” in the upcoming Vendy Awards, says the New York Daily News.

Sammy Kassem, 21, is a Kensington native with Palestinian roots. When nearby businesses – like Lone Star Bar and Grill owner Tony Gentile, who launched the Save Our Streets campaign – put pressure on him to move his food cart at 86th Street and 5th Avenue in Bay Ridge, he paired with the Urban Justice Center to keep his coveted space, says the paper.

“There are people all over the city who have similar problems. I tell other vendors, if you let them take your spot you will never get it back,” Kassem said.

Gentile had complained to police and politicians that Kassem’s cart was unclean and parked too close to the curb, though city inspectors found no major violations.

In the end, Kassem took home the prize after friends and customers flooded the Street Vendor Project with his nomination.

“People talked about how great his food is, but they also talked about the conflict between him and the brick-and-mortar businesses,” said Street Vendor Project staff attorney Matt Shapiro.