Rules for selling on Richmond Street give rise to hopes and concerns

RICHMOND — Pop-up canopies, meat skewers and sizzling griddles have popped up on Richmond’s sidewalks and parking lots, prompting both lines of hungry customers and warnings from officials to leave. Now the city is working to regulate the small businesses, but exactly when the new rules will take effect is still unclear.

The new policy, which just went into effect, is designed to establish the size and type of space a food vendor can leave on Richmond’s sidewalks, as well as help protect public health and initiate a city permitting process.

Additionally, a Mobile Vendor Plaza program is being planned that would provide vendors with access to designated parking and other city-supported resources such as tables, restrooms and lighting several times a week.

The proposal is intended to strike a balance between the needs of street vendors seeking to make a living and local merchants concerned about unregulated competition, Vice Mayor Claudia Jimenez said at a recent council meeting.

Instead of telling vendors, “I’m sorry, you can’t do business here, that’s your problem,” Jimenez said the ordinance offers a “comprehensive solution that provides some enforcement” but also “gives street vendors the opportunity to operate their businesses.”

Merchants and shop owners support the new regulation. Luzdary Leon Oquendo, a merchant who emigrated from Colombia with her husband and two children, said street vending is her only source of income and she is determined to stick with it. Navigating and understanding the requirements to stay open has been a challenge, she said, but she hopes the city’s initiative will improve that process.

“We want to work and get ahead and we don’t want to be a burden on society. That’s why we’ve worked really hard to create the means to support our family,” said Leon Oquendo, whose comments were translated from Spanish to English by Jimenez at a recent council meeting.

Oscar Garcia and Rigo Mendoza, both members of the 23rd Street Merchants Association, also welcomed the new rule. They said their organization has been lobbying the city on the issue for years because of concerns about street vendors blocking sidewalks, taking up parking spaces and leaving trash.

Brick-and-mortar retailers also felt they faced a double standard, Garcia said. While they were expected to obtain multiple permits, undergo inspection and pay various fees, taxes and overhead, seemingly rogue businesses opened up shop right outside the door with little to no oversight.

“They identify with the street vendors. The vendors are also immigrants who came to this country with nothing and have worked hard to build their businesses. They don’t want to close the door to anyone trying to build their own business,” Garcia said. “At the same time, (street vendors) must not disrupt the other businesses, at least not in any significant way.”