I received word over the weekend that after Friday, September 30, there will not be ANY food service on Fountain Square! I am incredulous at this news, which I am told came from 3CDC, and working to find out more.
The only suggested rationale for this policy change I have heard so far is that “some people complained that the food tents make the square look bad.” How this stacks up versus the vitality food vendors contribute to Fountain Square and its many activities that draw people to our city’s downtown core escapes me. I am hoping the limited information currently in my possession does not tell the whole story.
Feel free to add your questions in the comments section to these that already have me scratching my head: 1) Does the prohibition of food service apply only to full-time vendors, or will food service be allowed on Fountain Square for special events? 2) Does this new policy bar beverage vendors as well? (If not, isn’t it sketchy to offer alcohol for Fountain Square events without having food readily available as well?) 3) Does this mean no coffee or hot chocolate vendors will be permitted on Ft. Square while the ice-skating rink is up this winter? 4) Does this mean the Strauss + Troy Tuesday Market on the Square will not be back next summer?
I don’t doubt my source, nor do I wish to be unnecessarily alarmist. I will update this story as I (or others) learn more. Because, ya know, I have a day job :) This is a “scoop” I would be more than happy to retract.
6 comments:
Latest word is Nothing for special events, Nothing for the ice skating rink, although summer Market Tuesdays (currently sponsored by law firm Strauss + Troy) will be allowed, and confusion over whether the food truck zone at 5th & Race is somehow expected to be a trade-off for banning other food vendors from Fountain Square. This is disheartening, and ridiculous. More when I learn more.
Mmmh, are the restaurant and cafes involved?
On a completely different matter, I popped by to tell you that I have a blog candy here http://alessandrazecchini.blogspot.com/2011/09/blog-candy-win-party-food-for-girls.html
to win my latest book (written with my 12 years old daughter), if you or any of you foodie readers are interested :-).
Ciao
Alessandra
wow...way to go 3cdc...
I'm sure when those who say tents look bad realize they can't get their spoiled kids some hot chocolate during ice skating some revisions will be made. Tents don't make Fountain Square ugly, making it a less enjoyable, versatile space does. 3CDC should move to the suburbs. Can the vendors set up in Garfield Park? It's close, and won't be an eyesore to the elite of Cincinnati, or will it? Maybe they could set up under a bridge next to the highway, would that be out of the way enough? I am completely disappointed with Cincinnati right now.
Not surprisingly, I have not received a response from 3CDC on banning food vendors. But I did hunt up this Enquirer letter to the editor by Charlie Luken from July. http://cincinnati.com/blogs/letters/2011/07/27/tents-wagons-detract-from-squares-rebirth/ Sheesh! I guess it would be easier to get an unobstructed view of the fountain when you drive by if the Square were empty of people.
Way to have the scoop before the scoop was really a big scoop! When I saw Polly Campbell reporting on it I kinda laughed a little and thought...I already heard this, a few days ago...from EGGY! Kudos to that! [=
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