Gyro stand expansion nearly tanks - mobile food vendor should build restrooms for customers

Charlotte Observer ^ | 06/18/03 | Associated Press

[bedolido]

AMES, Iowa - A planned expansion of a gyro stand is on hold while city officials decide whether the mobile food vendor should build restrooms for customers.

The City of Ames has asked a judge to order the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals to specify whether vendor Matthew Goodman must provide an adequate number of approved toilets and hand washing facilities as required by Iowa law.

Gyros are Greek-style sandwiches of sliced lamb or beef stuffed into pita bread.

"We need to know by official declaration that the policy of the department is that we do not have to require a vendor to provide toilet and hand washing areas," said City Attorney John Klaus. "It's foreseeable that this issue will come up again."

The Department of Inspections and Appeals gives the city the responsibility for food establishment regulations, Klaus said.

The city received a letter from a department employee in February stating that bathrooms are required only when there are "mass gatherings," but city officials would like the state to go further.

The city decided to act after Goodman applied to open a third food stand. Last November, the owner a sandwich shop asked the city to revoke Goodman's vending license because of a lack of bathrooms.

The city didn't revoke Goodman's license after Goodman and Kum & Go presented city officials with an agreement that gyro stand customers could use the convenience store's restrooms.

Steven Young, Department of Inspections and Appeals director, said Ames has already requested and received sufficient clarification.

[bedolido]

Lunacy

[NautiNurse]

Just imagine--Port-a-Potties along side of hot dog stands nationwide. The smell makes me queasy just thinking about it.

[DPB101]

Happens a lot. Those who are required to provide bathrooms get sick of the competition (who may be doing a better business in a kiosk or a mobile stand) not having that expense.

[FReepaholic]

Hell, hand 'em a pee cup and a moist towelette.

[Mr. Bird]

Goodman and Kum & Go presented city officials with an agreement that gyro stand customers could use the convenience store's restrooms.

Convenience store? Sounds more like a brothel.

[banjo joe]

The Department of Inspections and Appeals

Ministry of Silly Walks

[StriperSniper]

hand 'em a pee cup and a moist towelette

Hey, maybe I can get him a deal on some cheap used burkas from Afghanistan for portable privacy!

I mean after NASCAR giving in and ending Winston's sponsership, I don't think they will buy my idea of staging Buzkashi games on the infield. : (

[ffusco]

Yes, but kiosk owners also have inclement weather and almost totally dependent on foot traffic.

[jimt]

Those who are required to provide bathrooms get sick of the competition (who may be doing a better business in a kiosk or a mobile stand) not having that expense.

The approach of crippling everybody equally is not a moral one.

[r9etb]

Convenience store? Sounds more like a brothel

Well, without bathrooms the "& Go" part is false advertising, isn't it?

[Cultural Jihad]

Yum!

[Wolfie]

Convenience store? Sounds more like a brothel.

No, that would be "Go & Kum".

[FReepaholic]

>>...I mean after NASCAR giving in and ending Winston's sponsership, I don't think they will buy my idea of staging Buzkashi games on the infield...<<

LOL!

I had an idea for NASCAR to have all the drivers race Segways around the track.

But, I don't think they'd go for it. Not enough room for all the sponsor decals.

[Freedom4US]

Gyros are Greek-style sandwiches of sliced lamb or beef stuffed into pita bread.

yeah, yeah. We know what they are. How about writing how silly this idea is? I love Gyros, why must cities constantly meddle with some guy and his business?

[Chi-townChief]

You're absolutely right. Gyros usually take a few hours to hit me so they should mandate a restroom not at the gyros stand but wherever I'm at about 3 hours later.

[StriperSniper]

race Segways around the track

I wouldn't want to try Tallidega. ;-)

[HurkinMcGurkin]

why must cities constantly meddle with some guy and his business?

Because we as a people didn't raise enough stink many years ago, and put our foot down, when government decided to insist it can control every aspect of human life by creating departments and jobs for people with no marketable skills. We opened pandora's box too long ago to close it.

[csvset]

What's the difference between a gyro and souvlaki?

[DPB101]

Yes, but kiosk owners also have inclement weather and almost totally dependent on foot traffic.

I've had both. ROI on outside sales is so much better. It is impulsive buying. Men, who get edgy in stores, have no problem buying when they aren't trapped by four walls.

There is a solution to this. Everyone chip in for public bathrooms or help out with the bathrooms in the stores.

Believe me, all vendors want their customers to be comfortable. As a vendor, I never minded paying for that.

When I set up in front of or near a store, I made sure the storeowner was delighted I was there. Money, presents, directing traffic into the store, helping them find good suppliers--there are many ways to avoid situations such as this one. It works both ways too. Help the stores and they help you.

My guess is the outside vendor is just an SOB who pushed too hard. The last thing a store wants to do is bring in the authorities (store owners do things they don't want the powers that be to take note of too).

[ffusco]

When I set up in front of or near a store, I made sure the storeowner was delighted I was there. Money, presents, directing traffic into the store, helping them find good suppliers--there are many ways to avoid situations such as this one. It works both ways too. Help the stores and they help you.

With your attitude you should do very well! I also had a neighbor , A Romanian couple in Astoria NY, who had donut carts, after 5 years he bought a house. God Bless America.

I don't think street vendors should have to pay for toilets- blame cities who don't provide them anymore, besides vendors usually move around- who would be maintaining these facilities? Who would want them in front of their biz?