Cartlandia

Bicyclist and driver alert: Cartlandia is on the way!

Portland, OR- If you think the best cart food in or around Portland comes from Mississippi Marketplace, you can find plenty of people who agree with you.

A number of newspaper reviewers have spotlighted several of Mississippi Marketplace cartistas in their Top 10 lists since that pod opened two years ago.

But there’s more than just tasty foods at that Marketplace at the southwestern corner of North Mississippi and Skidmore. Owner Roger Goldingay has provided clean, environmental grounds and a sheltered table area to provide comfort and confidence.

Another highlight at the Marketplace is Prost!, a German inspired beer pub. Their custom brews can make a hot summer evening a blessing.

What more could you ask for?  Surprisingly, better ideas are on the way.

Take a preview peek at the new Cartlandia pod in southeast Portland and you’ll see that Goldingay, over the last two years, has kept his creativity button fully engaged.

Unlike cookie-cutter business models where patterns are repeated a few thousand times, Goldingay has the ability to see a site and recognize its particular potential.

A year ago, the site at 8145 SE 82nd Ave. at the corner of Harney looked like your run-of-the-dump, inner-city nightmare.

“This area used to be one of the busiest places in town for drugs and prostitution because of the blocked fencing,” Goldingay says. But he saw a better future for it.

The key to the site is Johnson Creek and a newly paved bicycle trail. “I picked this site because of the Johnson Creek Springwater Corridor bike trail,” Goldingay notes. When completed, this improved trail will run from Milwaukie to Wood Village.

The Portland Parks & Recreation website details the many features of this path. How often do you see a bike path with its own traffic light? This one features a light on SE 82nd Ave., just a chip shot north of Cartlandia.

Many parks and nature refuges along the way put one in touch with vegetation and wildlife.  A former rail line, the trail features paved surfaces 10 to 12 feet wide, with soft sides.  The path includes 10 bridges that cross the creek.

Cartlandia, fortunately enough, lies roughly at the central point of the path, making it a convenient point to start and finish an excursion. Pedaling makes a biker thirsty and hungry, right? Multiply that biker by a factor of several hundred and what do you have? Bicycles in need of a shot of air can find an air-hose at Cartlandia.  By the official opening of Cartlandia in August 2011, The Bike Rack — a large repair van —  was open and ready to provide professional bicycle service to those arriving on the trail or on the street.

As Goldingay sees it, “We transformed a piece of property from a problem into a community gathering place.”

A Little Help

Removing years of junk, preparing the grounds for proper drainage, installing electrical outlets for 30 food carts, replacing fences and paving comes to a great deal more than pocket change. Goldingay estimates that permit fees have cost more than $100,000.

Fortunately, Goldingay knew where to look for start-up capital. Albina Opportunities Corporation, a Portland nonprofit, had provided funds to Goldingay to develop Mississippi Marketplace. Since that project has worked out so well, Goldingay got in touch with AOC’s Director Terry Brandt to discuss funding for Cartlandia.

AOC currently supports more than a dozen businesses in the Portland area, all of which are doing well.  With an expansion of its base capital, AOC saw its way clear to provide funding for Goldingay’s second project.

Food cart operators planning to upgrade their operations can call Brandt at (503) 227-3950.

The First Steps

In late May, bicycle season was beginning to blossom. “Last week, after a neighborhood 40-mile bike event, they stopped (here) for lunch,” Goldingay reports.In June 2011, the first six food carts had set up shop. By opening day in August, the count was up to twelve.  Other cartistas await Goldingay’s approval to fill the 30 allotted spaces. “I’m still looking at a protected food policy,” he says. That policy will ensure that Cartladia has no more than one cart of each style. This not only helps the cartistas, but gives visitors a wider choice of menus.

Goldingay sees more than the prospect of a food stop for bike riders. The property came with two buildings. Goldingay sees them as potential quarters for a hair stylist or a clothing store or perhaps even a news stand.

He also sees the buildings as serving as a refrigerated location for cartistas to store supplies. “On a good day they’ll run out of food (in their carts”),” he says.  “Instead of having to shut down to get more supplies, they can go to their storage space and keep their cart open.”

Cartlandia will offer parking for 40 cars, as well as bicycle racks, making it even more customer friendly.  Not one to overlook man’s best friend, Cartlandia offers a “barking lot” for pooches.

“I learned a lot from Mississippi Marketplace and you see what the drawbacks are,” he says. This time he believes he has created even better strategies.

A Set of Quality Cartistas

All the comforts of the world are nice, but they don’t mean much if you can’t find good, perhaps even exceptional, food.  Goldingay has a knack for picking outstanding tenants. To start with he looks for “food and services that are representative of the neighborhood.”  After identifying the tastiest foods, he looks for cartistas with bright, upbeat personalities. Goldingay says he looks for “a great cart with a great personality.”  No “soup Nazis” need apply.  A preview sampling of the first carts brought some very pleasant results.

Blazin’ Grill

With nine versions of hot dogs on the menu ($4.25 to $5.25) on the menu, you know that these folks are serious about their dogs.  The options range from vegetarian to elk.  Surely there must be something there with your name on it.   Hand dipped corn dogs?   Ebbets field was never like this.

Blues City Greens

Want some soul food to go with an evening of soul music?  This cart promises “Natural Meats.  Fresh Veggies.  No Wheat.”  Their lengthy menu of seasonal specials covers breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Who could possibly turn down the chance to sample an Elvis Pie — Peanut butter and banana cream on gingersnap crust —with a bacon option?  That should bring a smile to every resident of Heartbreak Hotel!   For a full listing, visit www.BluesCityGreens.com.

Breakfast Lunch Today

BLT owner Etienne Illige-Saucier learned some Louisiana cooking during his stay in Baton Rouge.  Etienne says his pastry-dough fried sandwiches are a variation on southern fried fish sandwiches.

On a hot day (or even on a cold one), try some of Etienne’s frozen custard.   He has started an herb garden behind his cart to provide fresh flavors for his creations.  A fresh mint frozen custard will appear soon.

Brother Express

If burritos catch your fancy, you absolutely must try the Toluquense Burrito.  Not having visited Toluqua, we can’t speak about authenticity.  However, mild or spicy, it will likely be the best burrito you’ve ever tasted.  And size?  It will likely cover lunch and dinner too!  Not half bad for $5.50.  Ask for a glass of horchata ($1.50) to pacify your thirst.

Cake on a Hot Tin Roof

This new member of the Cartlandia family should arrive by mid-September.  For better or worse, Tennessee Williams will not.

Cascade Burgers

Aram Ansell has his own surprises in his background. However, you need to taste his Epic Burger first. There you will find 7.5 ounces of local grown beef — about double as most others. But the beef is only half the story. Ansell’s own sauce and fresh — very fresh — salad greens and ripe — yes, ripe — tomatoes all combine to put this burger in a league of its own.If you think the Epic is good, then you’ll need to taste the one he’s really proud of — his veggie burger. His goal is to find a factory to mass produce his veggie burger — under strict supervision, of course.Once you taste his own version of catsup, you’ll be asking for the secret. Good luck on that one, but when you taste it, you’ll know it.And then there’s his love affair with the mole sauces of Oaxaca. And that’s a long, long story.

Cheesesteak Nirvana

Marshall Goodrich and his son turn out Philadelphia cheese-steak sandwiches to warm the heart of any fan of the Eagles, Phillies, 76ers or Flyers.A recently retired Beaverton dentist, Marshall reasoned, “I’m getting up to retirement age and I thought I’d have some fun.”Goodrich’s son, Ben, is a partner in the business.The “Zen Buddhist” features everything that the Goodrich guys have. The result is a wide range of fresh produce, freshly cooked, and thin strips of beef accented by the cheese(s!) of your choice.“We use a different grill for vegan foods,” Goodrich explains. To accommodate Vegans, Goodrich will wrap sandwiches with lettuce rather than Amaroso buns.

The Deadliest Catch

If this cart looks more like a bus, there’s a good reason for that.  Today, instead of hauling passenger’s from Lincoln City to Astoria, this veteran road warrior relaxes as a “Fisherman’s Seafood Galley”.  So get on board and consider the menu.  August options included ceviche ($3.00), king crab chowder, garlic shrimp, salmon tostadas and fish chips and some vegetarian dishes.

A churro from TDC and hot chocolate from Serendipity Espresso would certainly kindle your memories of a street breakfast in México D.F.

London Pasty Company

Jane and David Hayes helped dispel a bad memory of pasties (pass-teas) in England. The version that Jane turn out are fresh, light, with savory fillings.  Jane grew up in England — and just in case Jane forgot, her mom, Dorothy, came over from Britain to help get the business off to a fast and tasty start.

The Rock House Grill

Goldingay says that The Rock House Grill will open by mid-July. This bright orange cart with a roof ringed flashing lights will be hard to miss.  The options will feature a wider menu range than most restaurants. This cart boasts “40 years of great cooking” ranging from breakfasts from 8:a.m. to burgers and chili dogs to dinner plates.

Savvy J’s Southern Cuisine

The Cooking Channel though enough of Savvy J. to feature him on their TV show.

Serendipity Espresso

In addition to a broad lineup of coffees, this cart offers chai, smoothies, hot chocolate and other drinks.

On the horizon

As he builds his team patiently, Goldingaywill have many more pleasant surprises at Cartlandia.

At the moment Goldingay is exploring the possibility of acquiring a beer and wine license. If this pans out, he will convert one of the buildings to an indoor eating area when the weather is less than ideal.

Some Extras to Seal the Deal

One of the drawbacks of most food cart centers is a lack of restrooms with running water. Cartlandia has that one covered:  two indoor restrooms await your comfort.

To put the wrapping on the package, expect to find a state of the art, four color pixels, 60 inch TV to keep you posted on the Portland Timbers. And why not? Goldingay earned early fame playing for the Seattle Sounders and the Portland Timbers NASL soccer teams. Failing that, you can count on current battles between MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL teams or tournaments featuring nine-iron and racket-wielding artists.

When Cartlandia reaches its full potential, no cart cluster in town will match it. So why not stop by for a meal from time to time and watch this project develop?