By Liz Lape
PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) – More food vendors could line the streets of Downtown Peoria later this year.
City staffers have proposed to city council members that they would like to increase the number of vendors allowed on the street from three to five.
Due to the Adams Street and Jefferson Avenue two-way conversion, Assistant City Manager Kimberly Richardson told 25 News that she and other city leaders want to make sure vendors can line both sides of the streets near the courthouse on the 200 block of Hamilton Street and the 100 block of NE Adams Street.
“[We’re] looking at barriers, and we understand that for many small businesses, if there are ways that we can try to incentivize, we want to make that happen,” she said.
Richardson said the city is also considering waiving the fee again for street vendors, hoping to bolster business downtown, something she said fell off during the pandemic. That fee is $3,400.
“We’re trying to bring back that experience,” she said. “We recognize that it has shifted to trucks more so than carts, but our downtown was known for having dozens of food trucks.”
Haddad’s Restaurant and Tony’s on Wheels food truck co-owner Gabriel Haddad said his family has been selling food by cart, and now truck, for more than 40 years. He said he and other mobile food businesses would love to see more space downtown to sell their food.
“COVID really did hit us very hard, but I hope things will come right back to life again, because downtown, especially with all the businesses, it’s really unique to have something going on in that area,” he said.
Haddad said he also hopes to see the food vending fee waived, as he said it will help many businesses financially.
“The cost of everything is going up so high,” Haddad said. “That would be a miracle for everybody to have.”
Peoria City Council is expected to vote on the proposal during Tuesday night’s meeting.
