City to Continue Vendor Cart Program; Councilmembers Want Food Trucks

Alexandria will continue its and members of City Council want to bring the region’s popular food truck scene to the city.

Council received a staff report on the vendor cart program Tuesday night. While only two Old Town restaurants consistently participated in the program allowing food vendors in Market Square, city staff considered the trial a successful first step and look to expand the program in the future.

Vice Mayor Kerry Donley said he thinks the program has done a good job of enlivening Market Square by adding tables and chairs with umbrellas for customer use. Staff recommended purchasing more lawn furniture for the square.

“I am disappointed with the number of vendors,” Donley said. “We put a lot of staff on this, spent a lot of time on this and we had two vendors.”

According to a city memo, only one of the vendors who participated consistently through the program period is keen to return. The other was not willing to commit. 

Donley agreed with the staff recommendation to open the program beyond just existing Old Town restaurants and allow applicants from anywhere that can meet Health Department requirements.

Councilman Paul Smedberg said he believed lifting some of the restrictions on the program would help expand it and Donley agreed.

“I think you open it up to people who are already in the business,” Donley said. “I think you gotta have four. ... Put it out there. See who signs up.”

Councilman Rob Krupicka took it a step further and said he would like to see the city “dip” into the region’s food truck market that has proven extremely popular in the District and Arlington County. He mentioned Eisenhower Valley as a potential location.

Smedberg said he believed the Carlyle community would be a good location for food trucks.