As City ‘officially’ enters food cart fray, the papers portray different pictures

By on May 9, 2012  News
May 092012
 

Left: screen capture of nydailynews.com featuring Jacob Osterhout’s photo of Lonestar Bar owner Tony Gentile. Right: Screenshot of brooklyndaily.com featuring Elizabeth Graham’s “tough guy” pictures of Gentile and Middle Eastern Halal Cart owner Sammy Kassen.

In the saga of the 5th Avenue food cart wars, perspective can be everything. A recent Daily News piece, which reported on the recent immersion of public officials into the matter, took a decidedly different approach than the News Corp-owned CNG publications Brooklyn Daily and Brooklyn Paper – an angle best illustrated by… illustrations. Continue reading »

Halal Food Carts Back At Old Spot On Fifth Avenue, But Will Peace Ultimately Prevail?

By on May 3, 2012  Food & Drink
May 032012
 

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, the occupation of Bay Ridge’s Fifth Avenue by an outspoken group of local business owners ended, allowing Halal food vendor Sammy Kassen to move down the block to his favorite spot near 86th Street – for now.

Kassen, who according to Brooklyn Paper’s Will Bredderman had promised to circle his cart around the block until the group of surly store owners known as Save Our Streets, led by Lone Star Bar operator Tony Gentile, moved their tables. While Kassen may be back, his Tuesday did not go smoothly. Continue reading »

Fifth Ave Food Cart Wars Escalate With Sidewalk Occupation

By on May 2, 2012  Business
May 022012
 

Tensions between Bay Ridge’s brick-and-mortar business owners and the neighborhood’s mobile food cart vendors are on the rise, after an angry group of 5th Avenue merchants occupied a popular sidewalk vendor spot on Monday.

Members of a new group of store owners known as Save Our Streets, which is headed by Lone Star Bar [8703 5th Ave] owner Tony Gentile, sold books and magazines from card tables placed on 5th Avenue and 86th Street – a corner that’s popular with the Halal food carts that dot the neighborhood’s busy commercial strips. Continue reading »