A story from this past week’s issue of Crain’s Detroit Business (written by my editor Nathan Skid actually) highlights an issue that hasn’t gotten much attention…yet. When compared to other major cities—New York and Chicago come to mind—something is prominently absent from Detroit’s streets and sidewalks: food carts.

For residents and workers in the city this would seem to present a pretty obvious void and seems to be a missed business opportunity.  The only problem is that while there are already many individuals ready and willing to set up shop, it’s the city government that is preventing anything of the sort from happening.

Detroit’s current ordinances prohibit food trucks and stationary vendors from selling in both the central business district and the cultural center — eliminating potential lunch hubs like Campus Martius, Midtown, the museum district and the stadiums. 

So what gives? Well, one city planner argues the current ordinance restricting such food carts from setting up is in place to protect the “brick and mortar” establishments.  

Chris Gulock, a city planner with the Detroit Planning Commission, said the commission is hesitant to change the ordinances because it wants to protect current restaurant owners from competition. 

“Our established retail base is so fragile that it would hurt the restaurants that are already here,” Gulock said. “The vending ordinances have been in place since the 1940s.” 

One has to wonder though why a city, especially one like Detroit desperate for jobs and new business, couldn’t find room for both restaurants and food cart to compliment each other.

Well, luckily some local foodies have stepped up and voiced their concerns to the city council.  You can check out the entire article here.  Also, stay tuned for a video this Thursday profiling some cool local food carts trying to set up shop here in the Detroit area.