Cart Blocks
Cart Blocks is a food cart pod in Portland, Oregon's Ankeny Square, in the United States. It is operated by Friends of the Green Loop and has capacity for 24 to 26 carts.
Cart Blocks | |
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| Location | Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
  Cart Blocks  Cart Blocks | |
| Coordinates: 45°31′21.4″N 122°40′43″W / 45.522611°N 122.67861°W | |
Cart Blocks is a food cart pod in Portland, Oregon's Ankeny Square, in the United States. It is operated by Friends of the Green Loop[1] and has capacity for 24 to 26 carts.[2]
History
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The pod opened in 2021, following closure of the Alder Street food cart pod in 2019.[3][4] Permitting for the pod took longer than expected.[5] Some of the food carts that had been displaced by the closing and developing of the former location were temporarily housed at a nearby Post Office and eventually moved here to continue their businesses.[6]
The pod is part of a vision to revitalize downtown Portland through building a “culinary corridor,” which would allow carts to occupy parking spaces across several North-South blocks[7] stretching from Portland State University to NW Burnside Blvd as part of the Green Loop.[8] Former mayor Ted Wheeler supported the Cart Blocks by setting aside financing for them in his budget recommendations for 2021[9] and a federal grant was obtained in 2022 to connect the Cart Blocks with Darcelle XV Plaza.[10]
The city hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the pod's opening.[11] In December 2023, Portland signed a five-year deal to keep the pod open.[12]
Events
[edit]The pod has hosted events. In 2023, the site hosted a floral installation,[13] as well as a dance party and ice cream social following the Pride Bike Ride.[14][15][16] In 2024, the Cart Blocks hosted another dance party for Pride[17] and a Juneteenth market highlighting Black-owned businesses.[18] In 2025, the pod hosted "illuminated" performances as part of an LED drag show.[19]
Businesses
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Businesses that have operated at the site include:
- #1 Bento[20]
- Anna Thai Basil[20]
- Beijing House[20]
- Cookie McCakeface[21]
- Fernando's Alegria[20]
- Hua Li House[20]
- Kafta House[20]
- kBap Korean food[20]
- Kim Jong Grillin'[22]
- Rachel & Rose[23]
- Shanghai's Best[20]
- Tito's Burritos[20]
- Villa Angel Taqueria[20]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Griggs, Taylor. "Darcelle XV Plaza, Formerly O'Bryant Square, Ignites Heated Debate About Public Space". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on March 27, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ Ramachandran, Sagarika. "A moveable feast: Food carts roll with changes". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on February 24, 2025. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
- ^ Russell, Michael (July 22, 2021). "Cart Blocks, new home for downtown Portland food carts displaced by Ritz-Carlton, to hold grand opening Saturday". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on July 22, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- ^ Peel, Sophie (July 22, 2021). "Displaced Food Cart Pod Downtown Is Finally Opening New Location Saturday". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on July 23, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- ^ Jaquiss, Nigel (December 16, 2020). "The City of Portland Wants Visitors to Come Back Downtown—but It Hasn't Given a Food Cart Pod Permission to Operate". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on February 24, 2025. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
- ^ Gallivan, Joseph (July 17, 2019). "Alder Street food carts moving three blocks to Ankeny Square". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on February 24, 2025. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
- ^ Singer, Matthew (July 22, 2021). "The Alder Street Food Carts Have Found a New Home". Willamette Week. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
- ^ "The Cart Blocks Comeback". Willamette Week. July 7, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
- ^ Peel, Sophie (April 30, 2021). "Tucked Into the Portland Mayor's Budget: An Elusive Food Cart Pod". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on December 5, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
- ^ Egener, Max (October 4, 2022). "Enhancements coming to Downtown Portland street plazas". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on February 24, 2025. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
- ^ Burch, Liz (July 22, 2021). "Portland kicks off downtown revitalization celebration". KOIN.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- ^ Carter, Veronica (December 14, 2023). "Cart Block to Stay in Downtown Portland". KXL. Archived from the original on December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
- ^ "Portland's florals on display in Bloom Tour through downtown, Old Town". KOIN.com. April 14, 2023. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- ^ "8 things to do this weekend in Portland | June 2–4". KGW. May 31, 2023. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- ^ "Pride Month events happening around Portland". KGW. June 2, 2023. Archived from the original on July 12, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- ^ "Portlanders ride their bikes with Pride through downtown in Pedalpalooza event". KPTV. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- ^ "8 things to do this weekend in Portland | May 31- June 2". kgw.com. May 30, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
- ^ "Where to find Juneteenth celebrations throughout Portland". KOIN.com. June 14, 2024. Archived from the original on June 15, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
- ^ "What to Do in Portland (Feb. 12–18, 2025)". Willamette Week. February 11, 2025. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Five Lunch Spots for Your Next Wednesday Downtown". Willamette Week. February 15, 2023. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- ^ Mahoney, Teresa (January 7, 2025). "Portland cookie cart serves freshly baked cookies the size of baseballs". The Oregonian. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
- ^ Smith, Suzette. "Update: Food Cart Kim Jong Grillin Will Move to Downtown Cart Blocks Pod". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on March 27, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ Elise, Ayo (July 11, 2023). "Rachel & Rose brings the rooftop bar experience to Portland's 'Cart Blocks'". KPTV. Archived from the original on December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Cart Blocks at Wikimedia Commons- Official website
- The Cart Blocks Comeback, City of Portland
