CHARLOTTE — Charlotte Center City Partners are shutting down food trucks early in Uptown as a new push to curb crime, but one food truck owner says the plan is bad for business.
The manager of the Halal Food Cart told Channel 9’s Hunter Sáenz that he has proof his business isn’t the problem, and he thinks it’s discriminatory to force them to close early.
The food cart is a popular spot at lunchtime, but it’s also bustling for late-night food. It’s usually open until 3 a.m. on weekdays and 4 a.m. on weekends.
But that recently changed.
“It was very strange for me,” said Wais Mayar, the manager at Halal Food Cart.
Mayar got an email in mid-June from Charlotte Center City Partners ordering all food vendors to cease operations and close by midnight, every night, until further notice.
They said the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department asked for this because of recent public safety concerns in Uptown.
Mayar says his revenue is down 40% because of the change, and he’s had to cut shifts for employees.
“If there is violence in the city, then there are other measures that CMPD can take,” Mayar said.
He calls the decision discriminatory.
“It doesn’t make sense to shut down a small business whereas bars are open, clubs are open, there are crowds all over the city of Charlotte,” Mayar said. “If there is a curfew, it has to be on everybody. Bars have to close, everybody has to.”
Charlotte Center City Partners CEO Michael Smith didn’t grant an interview to Channel 9 on Thursday. In a statement, he said, “We have seen a positive impact with this temporary midnight closure, because this change reduces late-night loitering in Center City.”
Mayar doesn’t buy that.
“To do the right thing, we want them to not shut down small businesses,” Mayar said.
The city of Charlotte gives Center City Partners the power to manage the Tryon Street Vendor Program.
Sáenz reached out to the mayor’s office and asked if there are plans to ask city council to discuss this, and if there’s a potential solution.