Food cart back up and running

After a few months out of business, Crystal Morris is back to her 15-hour days on the streets.

Last week, Morris reopened Street Deli, a food cart selling soups, panini and other sandwiches at 10th and Byrd streets.

“It s a fresh, healthy alternative to the Wendy’s and Arby’s,” Morris said.

She opened her cart last summer but, after battling the city over licensing issues, was forced to shut down in January.

“That really set me back,” she said. “I lost a lot of customers here and there.”

Before having to close, Morris said business was booming and she was serving 50 to 60 customers per day.

“The last two months were off the charts,” she said.

She worked out of a 1,300-square-foot kitchen in the Museum District before moving to a bigger space in Church Hill in November.

Morris, 34, worked in the marketing department for Affinion Loyalty Group for 12 years before quitting in May to sling sandwiches.

“I grew up with restaurants in my family,” she said. “With the popularity of the food carts, I thought this might be an avenue I’d like to pursue.”

After taking two years to sketch out a business plan, and a $50,000 investment, Morris had Street Deli up and running in July.

Also on the food cart front, Rooster Cart has opened. The vegan and vegetarian cart is run by the previous owners of Café Gutenberg, Jen and Luke Mindell. Rooster Cart is behind Banditos at 2906 Patterson Ave. and occasionally around MCV.

In addition to new carts, one popular taco cart has wrapped its last burrito. Nate’s Taco Truck Stop in Jackson Ward closed in December. Owner Nate Gutierrez also operated a cart for years near VCU.

Recommended Reading

• Street Food
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• Getting Beyond the Traditional “
• Naperville extends downtown food cart permits
• How To Start A Food Truck Business