It's bar time on Frances Street in downtown Madison. One more drink at last call and there's only one thing on the minds of patrons at nearby watering holes—getting the food they crave. But when alcohol mixes with the competition for food, Frances Street can get chaotic, which is why the city is making strides to improve this end-of-the-night affair.
Last month, Madison's Vending Oversight Committee spent hours revising late-night vending ordinances to move large carts from Frances Street to assigned spots on Library Mall. Smaller carts, such as hot dog stands, will be allowed to stay and the price of vending licenses will go up, but officials hope the proposed changes will alleviate problems associated with rowdy customers and difficult vendors.
Jin's Chicken & Fish is one of the most successful large vending carts on North Frances Street, boasting long lines of dedicated customers night after night. However, the cart is also a source of controversy among neighbors and police, and often the topic of discussion at VOC meetings.
At Wednesday's VOC meeting, Rebecca Anderson, owner of the Eleanor Apartments at 405 N. Frances St., said she had received numerous complaints from tenants ranging from the smell and noise level of the adjacent vending carts to safety concerns. One cart stood out in Anderson's mind: Jin's.
A complaint filed with the VOC in July said Jin's operator Jeff Okafo amassed 29 parking tickets and became confrontational with parking enforcement officers. As a result, the Common Council suspended Okafo's vending license for six months in September. Despite Okafo's suspension, other employees are still allowed to run the cart—and they continue to do so every weekend.
Last week, Jin's employee Tevis O'Hare was working at the cart when he took a few moments to exchange pleasantries with a particular customer.
""He comes here almost every night, and every night he gets the same thing,"" O'Hare said of the man.
This kind of loyalty is common among Jin's customers, according to O'Hare. UW-Madison junior Greg Bostrom can attest to late-night cravings for Jin's cuisine. Bostrom said he and his friends once paid $50 for five sandwiches using Jin's ""VIP back door,"" where customers can buy sandwiches on the other side of the cart for double the price and no line.
""Jin's is so damn delicious,"" Bostrom said, adding he would definitely walk an extra block or two to get his favorite chicken sandwich. O'Hare said he isn't worried about dedicated patrons finding the cart if it moves to a new location.
""Moving to Library Mall just makes people walk a little farther,"" he said.
Although devoted customers are a staple at Jin's, there are also inevitable problems that come with catering to bar crowds. O'Hare said it can get ""a little rough with people fighting in line,"" and safety is his primary concern about moving to Library Mall.
Street Vending Coordinator Warren Hansen said new light fixtures should be up in Library Mall this spring by the start of the new vending season, April 15. VOC member Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said there would be noticeable law enforcement presence in the area, with officers from the UW and Madison Police Departments patrolling the area.
Currently, Insomnia Cookies is typically the lone cart stationed on Library Mall during the late-night hours. Employee Kevin Schiesser said the area is an ideal place for vending, ushering in everyone from families to crowds from nearby bars. When it comes to more businesses moving to Library Mall, competition isn't a concern at Insomnia Cookies—for Schiesser, it's the more, the merrier.
""As far as business is concerned, we sell dessert … so you're going to throw in some chicken, throw in some cookies, I think it could work out pretty well together,"" he said.
The proposed late-night vending ordinance changes will now go to the Board of Estimates for discussion and will likely be voted on at the March 17 Common Council meeting so the changes can be implemented in time for the new vending season.
