HUNTINGTON BEACH : Council to Take Up Cart Vendor Issue

The intensifying debate over whether entrepreneurs on Main Street should be allowed to continue selling their wares from outdoor carts and kiosks will be taken up by the City Council later this month.

The issue, which has divided merchants and townspeople for months, became more heated recently when a citizens committee voted 3 to 2 to recommend banning the stands. The entrepreneurs sell flowers, cappuccino and other items.

The two dissenting committee members joined with city staff representatives to urge approving guidelines that would permit the carts and kiosks.

The matter is expected to be taken up at the July 20 council meeting.

Community Services Director Ron Hagan said that mobile carts that operators push from block to block to hawk wares are already prohibited and that these are not at issue in the current dispute. Rather, at issue are the carts and kiosks confined to permanent locations, although they may in fact have wheels.

Nancy Wylie, who owns a frozen-yogurt shop and is a leading opponent of the kiosks and carts, said she believes that the sidewalk operators are Johnny-come-latelies who are unfairly taking business from longtime merchants.

Downtown business people make “a huge investment” to meet city and health department requirements, she said, whereas the cart operators can move in at comparatively little cost.

Wylie also said that the carts block pedestrians’ access to merchants’ establishments and that if the city allows the carts on Main Street, it would be encouraging their proliferation all over the downtown area.

Suzanne Mullen, who sells cappuccino, muffins and cookies from a cart, disagrees. Mullen said that she has put $10,000 into her business and that she is also paying the market rate for storefront space to park her cart.

Further, Mullen said, the carts and kiosks create a festive atmosphere and add zest to the downtown business area.