The U District Food Court

I stopped by the U District Market this past Saturday to check out the food court, where I've had a booth since May, though I haven't been there personally because I've been working at Magnolia instead.

The food court is run by the University Heights Center, the community center that rents space to the market. The market itself won't allow prepared food vendors who sell hot, ready to eat food except duriing the winter months, when they let us in because they have extra space and, besides, we're a draw.

But during the summer and fall we set up in a courtyard right near the building, which isn't visible from the market itself because there are two large vendor trucks blocking the view. We've had a hard time getting shoppers up there to eat, most probably because they can't see us. I've been taking a long term approach, figuring that it's just a matter of time before a critical mass of people figure out that we're there, but it's been frustrating. Not a complete loss, but a venue with a lot of potential that isn't living up to its potential, at least not yet.