Food Vendors Return To Brooklyn Park

July 19, 2008
Source NY1 News

Food vendors were allowed to sell their Latino specialties in Red Hook Park Saturday for the first time in nearly a year.

Traditional Latin fare like empanadas, ceviches and pupusas are now sold out of trucks, instead of the vendors' former stands and tables.

Locals were happy to wait in long lines to taste the vendors' wares.

"All summer, I come here on the weekend. All summer, I come here at least two times a day on the weekends," said loyal customer Peter Waldman.

Last summer, the vendors had to re-bid for permits they had held for years after health inspectors found violations.

Only six vendors' stands were set up Saturday, compared with 13 last year.

Besides inspections, other vendors weren't able to invest the $40,000 it took on average to stay in business and operate lunch trucks.

"It seems a little less like a neighborhood festival. With all the tables out there, it was more like a community picnic almost. Now the trucks are here," said customer Erin Sikorsky. "It seems a little more commercial, but the food's just as good."

To pay for the changes, some vendors raised prices - like one vendor who sold $2 pupusas for $2.25.

"It's very early to predict whether the vendors will be able to get back what they've invested for this year," said Cesar Fuentes of the Red Hook Vendors Association.

And even though the vendors lost three months of their seven-month season, many appreciated the new changes.

"This is much better this way because everything is more clean, you know. They have more organization," said vendor Noelia Macias.

The vendors will be at the park every weekend from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.