"How about a story on the new sidewalk fruit stands outside of Trader Joe's at 130 Court Street? Last week there was just one, but now this morning there are TWO fruit stands blocking the sidewalk and mucking up the pedestrian pathway. Combine this with the usual alternative energy folks, a food truck and the clothing/records/comic book sellers, which all makes it difficult to walk. I know our neighborhood won't ever be quiet and sleepy again, but can't we at least walk on the sidewalks? They set up the fruit stands at or before 5:30am, which is when I pass by on the way to the gym, and they take up the sidewalk with fruit boxes and their trucks unloading the fruit.
Help!"
The reader subsequently called 311 and logged a complaint with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the agency responsible for giving out licenses to sidewalk vendors.
I took the photos below on Tuesday at about 1:30 pm. The two new fruit vendors were set up right in front of the entrance to Trader Joe's and were doing a brisk business. A jewelry vendor was also displaying his merchandise just a few feet away from them.
That particular corner is obviously highly desirable for street vendors because of the foot traffic generated by Trader Joe's. But I do agree that it is getting very difficult to walk along that stretch of sidewalk. Perhaps it would be a good idea to space the vendors and their carts out just a bit more along Court Street.
Do you have an opinion?
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