Mpls. to allow food carts outside of downtown

Starting this spring, Minneapolis street food vendors will be able to operate in several new parts of the city.

The Minneapolis City Council approved an expansion of the city's mobile food vendor licensing policies to include areas outside of the downtown core.

Food trucks and carts will be allowed to operate on park board property as well as in Uptown, near Central Avenue northeast and other busy commercial corridors.

The expansion also makes it possible for food trucks to park on the street and pay parking meters. However, they are prohibited from parking too close to a restaurant.

Vendors pushed for the change at a recent public hearing. Josh Thoma, owner of the Smack Shack said food trucks and carts were a big boost to downtown last summer.

"As a food truck, we're filling a niche of food options for people who want something quick to go that don't want to go to a food court," Thoma said.

Last year, there were 10 mobile food vendors downtown. More are expected to get licenses this year.