DOCSLIB.ORG

Street Food Concept 'The Halal Guys' Plans Aggressive Canadian Expansion July 15, 2020

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Street Food Concept 'The Halal Guys' Plans Aggressive Canadian Expansion July 15, 2020 Street Food Concept 'The Halal Guys' Plans Aggressive Canadian Expansion July 15, 2020 EXTERIOR VIEW OF THE HALAL GUYS IN TORONTO. By Mario Toneguzzi The Halal Guys is bringing its quintessential New York City street cart food experience to Western Canada for the first time. THE HALAL GUYS IS COMING TO CALGARY Franchisee Youssef El Sweify has signed a multi-unit franchise deal to bring at least five locations to the Calgary area - marking the concept's fifth international deal and third in Canada, building on existing locations in Toronto. He plans to open the first location in the Fall. The Halal Guys is the largest American Halal Street Food concept in the world. Founded in 1990 by Mohamed Abouelenein, Ahmed Elsaka, and Abdelbaset Elsayed, The Halal Guys is now franchising worldwide via a new fast casual/QSR restaurant format. Ahmed Abouelenein, the company’s CEO, said there are 94 locations in the world currently with 200 in the development. In Canada, there are two operating in Toronto. Abouelenein said the company has sold five units each in Alberta, Toronto, and Vancouver. The 15 units are under development. “I think the Canadian market we can develop there at least from 50 to 100 units easily in the next 10 years,” he said. INTERIOR OF BUSY TORONTO LOCATION. PHOTO: TORONTO.COM He said each franchisee of the 15 is required to open one store a year. “Canada is a very unique market when it comes to food. I know there are a lot of people that will love to eat our food there. In addition we have a lot of customers in the States that are from Canada that love our food and always ask us to bring our food to different parts of Canada.” The Halal Guys became a well-known New York City brand largely via word-of-mouth thanks to Muslim cab drivers in the 90’s who appreciated delicious, fresh and well-priced American halal food. “It was a very good valuable meal that was cheaper for our customers,” said Abouelenein. “We focused on our customers, focused on the food quality we serve to the customers. The popularity of the food cart grew a lot and we came to put our first corporate location around mid-2014 in New York City and we started introducing our same menu items that we serve at carts with additional side items. “That’s how the brand started over the years. The customers loved the food, very unique brand. When the brand started, it was mainly focused on serving halal foods to Muslim cab drivers in the early 1990s because there was no halal food in the city at that time. And throughout the years the brand grew and the halal concept grew from only Muslim cab drivers to everyone and today 90 or 95 per cent of our customers are not Muslim. So the brand is everyone. It’s all about the food we serve to the customers. We take pride in serving the food and we’ll continue doing what we’re doing.” Abouelenein said the company is extremely excited to enter the Canadian market. � � � � � � thehalalguys View Profile thehalalguys View Profile 54.2k followers 54.2k followers View More on Instagram View More on Instagram 1,543 likes 1,130 likes thehalalguys thehalalguys Freshly sliced beef gyro, juicy chicken, and crispy crinkle Clean operations french fries all wrapped in a warm pita sandwich with cool White Sauce drizzle and squirts of Hot Sauce. Remember to continue to safely social distance and wear masks in public! We love you all We want to hear your thoughts! What are some of your nickname ideas for this? Drop them in the comments section #TheHalalGuys #WeAreDifferent #Coronavirus #Clean below : @grubspot #Takeout #Halal view all 19 comments #TheHalalGuys #WeAreDifferent #FrenchFries #PitaSandwich #Gyro #LunchIdeas #Hungry #Yummy #MondayMotivation Add a comment... view all 48 comments Add a comment... The Alberta locations will include Calgary, Canmore, and Banff. “The Halal Guys is a unique concept, and there is nothing like it in Canada. The demand for The Halal Guys is very strong here, and we are extremely excited to be opening in the greater Calgary area,” said franchisee owner Youssef El Sweify. “Our goal is to have the first restaurant open by Fall.” The Halal Guys is partnered with Fransmart, the industry-leading franchise development company behind the explosive growth of brands like Five Guys Burgers & Fries and QDOBA Mexican Grill, as its exclusive franchise development partner to grow the brand. The concept is actively looking for experienced multi-unit foodservice operators to develop additional franchises in major markets across the United States and internationally. The New York Post calls The Halal Guys “perhaps the city’s most famous open-air dining destination”. The Halal Guys is the #3 Most Yelped business in all of NYC, and as reported by Time Magazine, it is in the Top 10 Most Yelped businesses in the United States. Called “one of the longest-running and best- known food-cart businesses in New York City” by the New York Times, The Halal Guys was named Buzzfeed’s #1 Most Popular Food Truck for 2013, and was featured on Bloomberg Television and Fox News. ​Mario Toneguzzi, based in Calgary has 37 years of experience as a daily newspaper writer, columnist and editor. He worked for 35 years at the Calgary Herald covering sports, crime, politics, health, city and breaking news, and business. For 12 years as a business writer, his main beats were commercial and residential real estate, retail, small business and general economic news. He nows works on his own as a freelance writer and consultant in communications and media relations/training. Email: [email protected]. © 2020 Retail Insider Media Ltd. All Rights Reserved. The content on this website is protected by the copyrights of Retail Insider Media Ltd. or the copyrights of third parties and used by agreement. No part of any of the content of this website may be reproduced, distributed, modified, framed, cached, adapted or linked to, or made available in any form by any photographic, electronic, digital, mechanical, photostat, microfilm, xerography or other means, or incorporated into or used in any information storage and retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the prior written permission of Retail Insider Media Ltd. or the applicable third party copyright owner. Email: [email protected] | Advertising Inquiries: [email protected] BC-Based Freshslice Pizza Plans Aggressive Cross- Canada Expansion The company plans to open over 300 locations in new Canadian markets as it also eyes international expansion..
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Best Local Cuisine in New York"
    "Best Local Cuisine in New York" Gecreëerd door : Cityseeker 12 Locaties in uw favorieten Nom Wah Tea Parlor "Dim Sum Since 1920" Nom Wah Tea Parlor claims to have the longest running dim-sum shop in NYC and since 1920 this restaurant has been serving these delectable little dumplings at this address. For a bit of history, this storefront is located on the Bloody Angle, one of the city's most notorious alleys in which many Chinese gangs shed blood throughout the 19th Century. by Abhishek Sanwa Limbu on Despite the mayhem which then existed, today, Nom Wah diners eat Unsplash on Unsplash classic siu mai and drink hot jasmine tea, just as it was done along the Silk Road hundreds of years ago. +1 212 962 6047 nomwah.com/chinatown/ [email protected] 13 Doyers Street, New York NY Lombardi's "America's First Pizzeria" In 1897 Gennaro Lombardi started selling tomato pies to workers from a humble storefront on Spring St. In 1905, he transformed it into what would become the first pizzeria in the United States. The original location closed in 1984, but the family reopened this pizzeria in 1994, right down the street. Inside, the magnificent, brick-oven pizza comes to your table the same way it did over a century ago. It's simple, crusty and much beloved by the locals and tourists. Needless to say, wait times on the weekends can be quite long and a line of people usually curves around the door. The ovens use classic ingredients like San Marzano tomatoes, real Mozzarella di Bufala and if you are looking for a slice, look elsewhere because Lombardi's has historically never sold them.
    [Show full text]
  • NYC's Legendary the Halal Guys Inks Multi-Unit Deal, Fueling Rapid
    CONTACT: Laura Rankin Belle Communication [email protected] 614-304-1463 office Sophia Groome Fransmart [email protected] 703-842-5400 office NEWS RELEASE NYC’s Legendary The Halal Guys Inks Multi-Unit Deal, Fueling Rapid Expansion Across Canada The beloved American Halal concept is making its Western Canadian debut, bringing five new locations to the Calgary area CALGARY, CANADA (July 1, 2020) – The Halal Guys has signed a franchise deal to bring at least five new locations ​ to territories in Calgary, Canmore and Banff. This is the brand’s fifth international deal and third in Canada, building on existing locations in Toronto. The Halal Guys is the original creator of American Halal Food. The concept became a well-known New York City brand largely via word-of-mouth thanks to Muslim cab drivers in the 90’s who appreciated delicious, fresh and well-priced American Halal Food. This year, The Halal Guys will bring its quintessential New York City street cart food experience to the Calgary area for the first time. “The Halal Guys is a unique concept, and there is nothing like it in Canada. The demand for The Halal Guys is very strong here, and we are extremely excited to be opening in the greater Calgary area,” said franchisee owner Youssef El Sweify. “Our goal is to have the first restaurant open by Fall.” With a loyal fan base as diverse as their flavor palate, The Halal Guys currently operates 94 locations with more than 200 worldwide expansions in development. The Halal Guys is partnered with Fransmart, the industry leading franchise development company behind the ​ ​ -more- explosive growth of brands like Five Guys Burgers & Fries and QDOBA Mexican Grill, as their exclusive franchise development partner to grow the brand.
    [Show full text]
  • Opportunity Overview Lease Price/Terms Miscellaneous Operations Recast Earnings Click HERE to Contact Us About This Business! Fi
    Business Team Opportunity Overview Mergers and Acquisitions EG10421 - Franchises United States Click HERE to contact us about this business! New York City famous The Halal Guys The Halal Guys Franchise is the fastest-growing American Halal franchise in the world with locations across North America, Europe, and Asia. Serving up delicious mouthwatering chicken, gyros, and falafel platters to devoted fans. The Halal Guys represents the epitome of the American Dream. This iconic brand’s fascinating origins tale is similar to scores of others who also emigrated to America in search of a better life. As a result of this journey, countless cultural traditions (and cuisines) crossed over into the United States over the years. The Halal Guys’ story begins in 1990 with three Egyptian founders, who first started a hot dog cart in New Yo Recast Earnings (Not Verified By Business Team) Financial Data Not Available Operations Number of Employees Full Time Part Time Licenses Required Local jurisdiction food handler permit and Non-Owners 0 0 business license. Owners 0 0 Hours of Operation New owners discretion Price/Terms Lease Asking Price $315,600 Monthly Rent Including NNN $0 Down Payment $315,600 Expires Inventory (included) $0 Option No Size (sq.ft.) 1400 Real Property Available No New Lease Available Yes Miscellaneous Type of Organization - Training - Reason for Sale New Franchise Disclaimer: The information provided herein is compiled from information provided by the seller(s). Business Team (CA BRE 01160661) makes no representation as to its accuracy or reliability. Prospective buyer(s) should rely upon their own verification and that of their financial advisors with respect to this information..
    [Show full text]
  • How to Make Your Favorite NYC O Ce Lunch at Home
    8/26/2020 How to make your favorite NYC office lunch at home LIVING How to make your favorite NYC oÔce lunch at home By Zachary Kussin August 24, 2020 | 9:57am Popular lunches from Fresh & Co, The Halal Guys and The Little Beet. Stefano Giovannini; Stephen Yang; Tamara Beckwith Before the coronavirus pandemic hit New York, some 680,000 bodies milled around Midtown Manhattan for work and play each day — more than 10 times its nighttime population. That’s a lot of sad desk lunches. But as remote work policies remain in place for the bulk of the city’s desk jockeys, some devotees of urban fast-casual chains actually miss the grab-and-go lunches of pre-pandemic times. Broadway musician Mat Eisenstein, for example, used to order the Santa Fe salad from grab-and-go staple Fresh & Co. about three times a week. He longs for the Southwestern-style dish. “If I want to do that at home, I have to go to the supermarket and pick out all the diºerent vegetables, and also the chicken or the salmon,” said the 47-year-old father of two, who is currently based in Rutherford, NJ, and was most recently the assistant conductor of the musical “Frozen.” “It’s so convenient, especially for someone who is running around from a https://nypost.com/2020/08/24/how-to-make-your-favorite-nyc-office-lunch-at-home/ 1/9 8/26/2020 How to make your favorite NYC office lunch at home rehearsal to a performance. I only had a limited amount of time, and instead of getting a slice of pizza, this was a really nice option.
    [Show full text]
  • Food Truck Frenzy: an Analysis of the Gourmet Food Truck in Philadelphia
    Food Truck Frenzy: An Analysis of the Gourmet Food Truck in Philadelphia Kevin Strand Sociology/Anthropology Department Swarthmore College May 11, 2015 Table of Contents I. Abstract.. .................................................................................................................. .3 II. Introduction ........................................................................................................... ..4 III. Literature Review .................................................................................................. 11 IV. Methodology .......................................................................................................... 2 2 V. Chapter 1-- Raising the Stakes with the New "Kids" on the Block ...................... 36 VI. Chapter 2-- From Food Trend to Valid Business Model.. .................................... 48 VII. Chapter 3-- Food Truck Fanatic? Or Food truck junkie? ........................................... 68 VIII. Conclusion: Looking Towards the Future .......................................................... 77 References ..................................................................................................................... 85 2 Abstract: For my senior thesis I am going to investigate the rampant rise in popularity of gourmet food trucks in the past six or seven years. When I first arrived at Swarthmore, our campus was visited by one upscale cupcake truck during the spring semester that had to endure a line of almost 150 people and ran out of ingredients within an
    [Show full text]
  • NANU BARI: for People Who Love Desi Food – and Their Grandma: a Food Truck Business Plan
    Salem State University Digital Commons at Salem State University Honors Theses Student Scholarship 2020-05-01 NANU BARI: For People Who Love Desi Food – and Their Grandma: A Food Truck Business Plan Shaima Azam Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.salemstate.edu/honors_theses Part of the Business Administration, Management, and Operations Commons Recommended Citation Azam, Shaima, "NANU BARI: For People Who Love Desi Food – and Their Grandma: A Food Truck Business Plan" (2020). Honors Theses. 271. https://digitalcommons.salemstate.edu/honors_theses/271 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Scholarship at Digital Commons at Salem State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons at Salem State University. NANU BARI: For People Who Love Desi Food – and Their Grandma A Food Truck Business Plan Honors Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration In the Bertolon School of Business at Salem State University By Shaima Azam Dr. Robert B. “Ripp” Daniell Faculty Advisor Management Department *** Commonwealth Honors Program Salem State University 2020 i Abstract This thesis details the steps necessary to successfully start a mobile restaurant operation (food truck) in the greater Boston area. A primary issue to consider before starting this business venture is the permitting process and what permits are necessary to operate a food truck. As such, a business plan will be required in order to be able to obtain the permits. Along with the business plan, a detailed marketing section illustrating the brand for the business is needed.
    [Show full text]
  • Things to Do in NYC
    Restaurants $ Woorijip Korean cafeteria-style restaurant, Popular, no-frills staple with buffet-style hot & cold dishes plus prepared foods for a quick lunch. 12 W 32nd St, New York, NY 10001 http://www.woorijipnyc.net/ Food Gallery 32 Korean and Asian food court: Asian eats from noodles to spicy fried chicken can be had at this multi-level food court. 11 W 32nd St, New York, NY 10001 https://foodgallery32nyc.com/ Xi'an Famous Foods Local, immigrant-owned chain. Xi’an Chinese food. Local counter-serve chain offering Xi'an-style Chinese fare, including noodles, soups & sandwiches. 24 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036 https://www.xianfoods.com/ The Halal Guys Food Cart Local, immigrant-owned chain. Started as a food truck at this location. Corner of W 53rd St & 6th Ave https://thehalalguys.com/ Shake Shack Gourmet fast food. The original shack is in Madison Square Park. Hip, counter-serve chain for gourmet takes on fast-food classics like burgers & frozen custard. 691 8th Ave, New York, NY 10036 Amy’s Bread Local, woman-owned bakery and cafe. Bakery/cafe offering artisanal breads, sandwiches, pastries & beverages to eat in or take home. 672 9th Ave, New York, NY 10036 http://www.amysbread.com/ $$ Westway Diner Classic NYC diner, 24/7 Breakfast, dinner & anything in between including Greek & Italian dishes is available here anytime. 614 9th Ave, New York, NY 10036 https://www.westwaydiner.com/ $$$ Bryant Park Grill American restaurant in Bryant Park and behind the New York Public Library. Great place to have a delicious cocktail on its roof! 25 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018 http://bryantparkgrillnyc.com/ Chelsea Market Chelsea Market is a food hall, shopping mall, office building and television production facility located in the Chelsea neighborhood of the borough of Manhattan, in New York City.
    [Show full text]
  • Three Collums- WO Based on DOHMH New York City Restaurant Inspection Results
    Three Collums- WO Based on DOHMH New York City Restaurant Inspection Results DBA CUISINE DESCRIPTION INSPECTION DATE DUNKIN Donuts 11/18/2019 ALL ABOUT INDIAN FOOD Indian 09/15/2021 CHARLIES SPORTS BAR Bottled Beverages 11/24/2018 MIMMO Italian 03/12/2020 SUENOS AMERICANO Spanish 01/03/2020 BAR RESTAURANT ANN & TONY'S Italian 02/19/2019 RESTAURANT GREEN BEAN CAFE Coffee/Tea 01/16/2020 PORTO BELLO PIZZERIA Pizza 07/06/2017 & RESTAURANT GUESTHOUSE Eastern European 04/24/2018 RESTAURANT CALEXICO CARNE ASADA Mexican 04/19/2018 JOHNNY UTAHS American 06/20/2018 RUMOURS American 12/12/2019 FORDHAM RESTAURANT American 09/10/2019 HONG KONG CAFE Chinese 05/14/2018 CHINESE RESTAURANT ASTORIA SEAFOOD & Seafood 08/19/2019 GRILL SUP CRAB SEAFOOD Chinese 08/27/2019 RESTAURANT Page 1 of 279 09/28/2021 Three Collums- WO Based on DOHMH New York City Restaurant Inspection Results RESTAURANT SWEETCATCH POKE Hawaiian 06/24/2019 SWEETCATCH POKE Hawaiian 06/24/2019 KAHLO Mexican 01/15/2019 52ND SUSHI Japanese 10/08/2019 EL COFRE RESTAURANT Latin American 04/19/2018 CARVEL Frozen Desserts 10/26/2017 CHOPSTICKS Chinese 12/22/2017 CATRIA MODERN ITALIAN Italian 02/13/2020 CATRIA MODERN ITALIAN Italian 02/13/2020 TAGLIARE PIZZA DELTA American 06/21/2018 TERMINAL OVERLOOK American 11/06/2017 BILLIARD COMPANY American 10/11/2019 BOCADITO BISTRO Eastern European 02/14/2017 FINN'S BAGELS Coffee/Tea 12/30/2019 FINN'S BAGELS Coffee/Tea 12/30/2019 CHUAN TIAN XIA Chinese 08/13/2018 LA POSADA MEXICAN Mexican 09/26/2019 FOOD CHINA STAR QUEENS Chinese 01/16/2018 CHINESE RESTAURANT
    [Show full text]
  • The Halal Guys Selects Revel Systems As Preferred Point of Sale Provider for All Franchises
    The Halal Guys Selects Revel Systems as Preferred Point of Sale Provider for All Franchises Restaurant group switches from legacy system to extend Revel rollout across growing number of locations Atlanta, GA - May 28 —Revel Systems, a leading provider of a cloud-based point of sale (POS) ​ ​ ​ and complete business management platform, today announced that more than 80 franchise locations of fast-casual restaurant group, The Halal Guys, will use Revel as its preferred POS ​ ​ ​ partner. ​ The Halal Guys, famed for pioneering American halal food, has been successfully using the Revel platform in 21 of its locations across the U.S. and plans to have the remaining 62 locations up and running systemwide this August. “When we were considering Revel, we saw it as the most compatible POS system for The Halal ​ Guys because it supported franchisees, team members and loyal customers,” said Margaret ​ ​ Carrera, chief development officer, The Halal Guys. “The most beneficial feature is that the ​ whole system is cloud-based, which means our franchisees and corporate development team can access data from anywhere, allowing us to oversee and troubleshoot inventory, employee management, sales reporting and much more.” ​ From humble food cart beginnings in New York City, The Halal Guys has grown into a ​ ​ world-renowned restaurant chain with more than 90 restaurants worldwide and hundreds more in development. This growth prompted the group to seek out a fast and reliable POS that could ​ ​ be deployed across its growing franchise, help streamline operations and reporting, and enhance the overall customer experience. The implementation reflects a continued trend for Revel in customer deployments that replace outdated legacy systems and increased business demand for cloud-based systems.
    [Show full text]
  • Restaurant Partnership Kit 2016 IMPRESS YOUR CUSTOMERS Get Your Food to Them Faster and Easier
    Restaurant Partnership Kit 2016 IMPRESS YOUR CUSTOMERS Get your food to them faster and easier UberEATS is a new way to reach your customers. UberEATS generates new demand for your restaurant’s food by offering it to our eaters via Uber’s world-renowned logistics and delivery system. You are able to GROW your clientele and FOCUS on preparing great food as you CONSIDER the UberEATS family part of your team. Our goal with UberEATS is to get local favourites into people’s hands—and do it faster and more reliably than anyone else. Sincerely, Paolo Lorenzoni GM of UberEATS Chicago “There was a lot of hype when we first launched in Chicago and while we cultivated a loyal commuter & late night walk-up clientele, there were many people that wanted to try The Halal Guys but couldn’t. UberEATS has allowed us to tap into this pent up demand. ” Steven Chong, Co-Owner of The Halal Guys, Chicago GROW on your terms UberEATS is a new source of extra revenue. When your restaurant is featured in the app, more people will discover it. You have complete control over the dishes The Halal Guys you offer. We’ll work with you to make them From humble beginnings as a New York City as delivery-friendly as possible. hot dog cart 25 years ago, The Halal Guys are now taking their American Halal Food, fast casual concept, cross-country and worldwide, Through UberEATS, you now have access with its first Chicago location opening in August 2015. The Halal Guys are beloved to thousands of hungry customers.
    [Show full text]
  • Group Based on Food Establishment Inspection Data
    group Based on Food Establishment Inspection Data Business_ID Program Identifier PR0088142 MOD PIZZA PR0089582 ANCESTRY CELLARS, LLC PR0046580 TWIN RIVERS GOLF CLUB INC PR0042088 SWEET NECESSITIES PR0024082 O'CHAR CROSSROADS PR0081530 IL SICILIANO PR0089860 ARENA AT SEATTLE CENTER - Main Concourse Marketplace 7 PR0017959 LAKE FOREST CHEVRON PR0079629 CITY OF PACIFIC COMMUNITY CENTER PR0087442 THE COLLECTIVE - CREST PR0086722 THE BALLARD CUT PR0089797 FACEBOOK INC- 4TH FLOOR PR0011092 CAN-AM PIZZA PR0003276 MAPLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PR0002233 7-ELEVEN #16547P PR0089914 CRUMBL COOKIES PR0089414 SOUL KITCHEN LLC PR0085777 WILDFLOWER WINE SHOP & BISTRO PR0055272 LUCKY DEVIL LATTE PR0054520 THAI GINGER Page 1 of 239 09/29/2021 group Based on Food Establishment Inspection Data PR0004911 STOP IN GROCERY PR0006742 AMAZON RETAIL LLC - DELI PR0026884 Seafood PR0077727 MIKE'S AMAZING CAKES PR0063760 DINO'S GYROS PR0070754 P & T LUNCH ROOM SERVICE @ ST. JOSEPH'S PR0017357 JACK IN THE BOX PR0088537 GYM CONCESSION PR0088429 MS MARKET @ INTENTIONAL PR0020408 YUMMY HOUSE BAKERY PR0004926 TACO BELL #31311 PR0087893 SEATTLE HYATT REGENCY - L5 JR BALLROOM KITCHEN & PANTRIES PR0020009 OLAFS PR0084181 FAIRMOUNT PARK ELEMENTARY PR0069031 SAFEWAY #1885- CHINA DELI / BAKERY PR0001614 MARKETIME FOODS - GROCERY PR0047179 TACO BELL PR0068012 SEATTLE SCHOOL SUPPORT CENTER/ CENTRAL KITCHEN PR0084827 BOULEVARD LIQUOR PR0006433 KAMI TERIYAKI PR0052140 LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL Page 2 of 239 09/29/2021 group Based on Food Establishment Inspection Data PR0086224 GEMINI FISH TOO
    [Show full text]
  • Not for Distribution
    Chapter 11: Food, time and space Mobile cuisine in New York and Portland Karen A. Franck and Philip Speranza In the twenty-first century one might expect that the age-old tradition of sell- ing prepared foods in urban public space would have vanished. But in the US the custom flourishes, continuing to draw immigrants to its ranks. One may still encounter a lone Hispanic woman selling tamales, churros or sliced fruit from a grocery cart or Italian ices from a small cart she pushes by hand. But this is rare. Today nearly all vendors rely on trucks they drive or carts that are delivered to the chosen site. A recent change in food vending in the US, which accounts for the Taylorcurrent flourishing and of street food, Francis is the emergence of the gourmet food truck. Their operators aspire not just to cook and sell food but to prepare food made with Notfresh, possiblyfor local distributionor exotic ingredients and of high enough quality to achieve the status of ‘cuisine’, but at affordable prices. The advent of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram allows such trucks to move from place to place without losing their customers. They now number 4,000 nationwide in cities with populations over 100,000 (redOrbit 2014). To explore the topic of mobile cuisine we first take a brief look at the history of street food vending, primarily in New York. Then we consider four features of mobile cuisine: the food, the business, the vehicle and its use of space and time. Our data is drawn from interviews conducted in 2014 with 40 operators of mobile food trucks in New York and 42 operators of stationary carts and stationary trucks in Portland, Oregon, from observations of the sites where they are located and from online sources and previous academic research.
    [Show full text]