Portland's Entirely BIPOC- and LGBTQ-Owned Food Cart Pod Is Undergoing a Huge Shakeup

"Big changes and a rebrand are coming to Lil' America, a food cart pod that initially made headlines for its mission to exclusively host BIPOC- and LGBTQ-owned food carts. Opened by local restaurant group ChefStable in April 2023, Lil' America promised to provide mentorship to its tenants, host cultural events, and offer amenities like dry storage, a dish pit, and a walk-in fridge."

"On August 29, ChefStable asked three out of its six total carts to leave by the end of October. All three were part of the original Lil' America lineup: Hainan chicken cart Hawker Station, vegan comfort food and beverage cart Speed-O Cappuccino, and Filipino fast food-inspired cart Makulít. Korean fried chicken cart Frybaby gave notice that it also intended to leave before October's end."

Lil' America opened in April 2023 as a food cart pod prioritizing BIPOC- and LGBTQ-owned vendors, offering mentorship, cultural events, and shared amenities. On August 29, the pod operator asked three of six original carts to leave by the end of October, and a fourth cart also gave notice to depart. The stated reason for the change is to rebrand the pod and expand the production facility for bakery Dos Hermanos, which shares ownership with the operator. Several cart owners expressed disappointment and concern about financial stability and the pod's original mission.

Read at Eater Portland