A curbside coffee trailer owner who was forced to shut down her business due to city bylaws will soon be able to reopen. On Wednesday, city council voted unanimously to launch a pilot program next year in the downtown University-Rosedale area, which will temporarily relax mobile vending licence rules.
“I’m absolutely happy. I feel like I’m sleeping, dreaming, and I don’t want to wake up,” said Anastasiia Alieksieichuk after the vote. The 27-year-old, who had been selling coffee and snacks from a trailer she towed behind her car, closed her business last month after facing multiple run-ins with bylaw officers. “This means I can go back to my customers, who’ve become my friends. I love bringing them joy, seeing them first thing in the morning, and helping them have a great day,” she added.
Alieksieichuk, who fled the war in Ukraine two years ago, had a “nonmotorized refreshment vehicle” licence, but according to the city’s street vending bylaws, she also needed a “mobile vending” permit to operate on designated streets. She couldn’t obtain this permit because her coffee trailer does not have its own motor. As a result, since opening in July, Alieksieichuk was ticketed twice, each time with a $500 fine. Facing an upcoming court date this month, she closed her shop on St. George Street to avoid further penalties.
Coun. Dianne Saxe, who introduced the motion, said the city should support small business owners like Alieksieichuk, who operate “less-polluting” and “less-expensive” trailers. Saxe’s motion, which passed on Wednesday, allows non-motorized vehicles to obtain mobile food vending permits and sell food and drinks in parking spots where mobile vendors are permitted.
City staff will present the proposed rule changes to the economic and community development committee for approval in late February.
“I’m excited to have peace of mind. Every day, I was going into work worried bylaw officers would come up to me,” Alieksieichuk said. “But I wasn’t trying to break the law… I just wanted to do something unique.”
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