“We do not want vendors gone. We want them in this neighborhood,” Nathan Cyr, co-owner of Old News Vintage, said.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ Charlotte City Council is considering expanding street vending regulations citywide and increasing penalties for violations as NoDa’s pilot program nears its expiration later this month.
The newly formed Safety Committee discussed the options on Thursday afternoon.
They’re weighing two major changes: expanding Uptown’s regulations across the city and introducing criminal charges for violations instead of civil citations.
Outside of Uptown and NoDa, street vending is largely unregulated in Charlotte. Uptown is designated a Congested Business District, where vending is generally illegal, except for a few city-authorized exceptions.
The councilmembers’ concerns include congestion, the CMPD’s staffing constraints during shift changes, and competition with established businesses.
However, some NoDa business owners say they’ve already felt the negative impact of fewer vendors.
“We do not want vendors gone. We want them in this neighborhood,” Nathan Cyr said. “I give business to my friends that sell clothes on this side of the street, and they give me business as well.”
Cyr is the co-owner of Old News Vintage in NoDa. He said street vendors actually help his business by drawing customers to the area.
“That’s a huge thing, especially during a slow Monday or Tuesday, having people that are coming from the outside that would never have normally been here, but are here because of what attracts them,” Cyr said.
He added that if any business faces competition, it should be his, given the similarities in products to some of the street vendors. However, he’s found the opposite to be true.
“It’s noticeably been way slower on the weekends than it has in previous years,” Cyr said. “If we have no business, we’re not the only ones being hurt. It’s the restaurants and the bars.”
Once the NoDa pilot program ends Feb. 16, the area will operate as a Congested Business District like uptown, effectively banning street vending.
A public input session is scheduled for Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. at the government center, where vendors and businesses can share their perspectives.
The full Council will need to vote on any future changes, including whether to expand regulations citywide and authorize stronger penalties.
Contact Julie Kay at juliekay@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
