OPINION: Don’t Push Street Vendors Like Me Out of Business

Editor’s Note: Earlier in June, we reported on the city’s efforts to potentially regulate street vending in NoDa and possibly the entire city. At its June 22 meeting, Charlotte City Council is scheduled to vote on whether to make NoDa a Congested Business District, which would prohibit street vending in the neighborhood unless vendors applied and were approved for a permit, which costs $350 in a similar program at the Tryon Street Mall. Before their vote, one street vendor wrote the following letter.

I’m a hard-working Latina single mom juggling three jobs just to keep my family afloat. Vending has been a critical way for me to offset living costs, share my handmade art and bring joy back into my life — even on days when chronic pain makes it hard to get out of bed. 

Vending isn’t just business for me — it’s healing, it’s connection, it’s survival.

I’ve set up as a vendor in both Plaza Midwood and NoDa, and I’ve always done so with respect and love. When I was vending in NoDa, I didn’t just show up—I invested back into the community. I brought my friends to local restaurants, bought my drinks and meals from surrounding businesses, and made it a point to support the neighborhood with my dollars. I never disrespected a storefront, never brought negative energy. I was there to build, not to take.

Now, I’m vending again — this time in Plaza Midwood in front of Common Market. But I’m being told by people at Moxie Mercantile that they “don’t want it to turn into NoDa.” They’ve warned me that they will call the police on me and demand permits if I set up outside their store.  

I have to ask — what exactly does it mean to “turn into NoDa?” Is it the presence of people of color? Is it the one incident that happened with a single vendor? 

Me and my friend — also a Latina mom of five — are not trouble. We are creators. Mothers. Artists. We’re not trying to take from these neighborhoods, we’re trying to add to them — to bring culture, creativity and community back into spaces that have been increasingly gentrified.

Read More: City Poised to Enact Regulations on Street Vending in Charlotte

I recognize the need for some shared guidelines to keep things fair, sustainable and affordable for everyone — vendors, local businesses and residents alike. I’ve seen some instances where setups overwhelm sidewalks or block brick-and-mortar shops, limiting space and opportunity for others. This can unintentionally create tension rather than the sense of community we aim to foster.

My personal experience as a street vendor includes being pushed out of NoDa due to conflicts over vending space, so I see the value in approaching this with a solution-oriented mindset rather than resistance, but permits should not be made to be so expensive that people like me cannot participate. 

Vending should not be discouraged — only that we consider thoughtful boundaries so artists and vendors like myself can continue sharing our work without displacing others or causing friction.

Let me be clear: One bad apple should never spoil the bunch. We should not be grouped with someone else’s actions, especially when we had no part in it. We deserve the right to practice business and share our work — even if we don’t pay storefront rent. Paying rent does not entitle any business to treat other hard-working people like we don’t belong.

Street vending is a legitimate part of the local economy and culture — especially for those of us who’ve historically been locked out of traditional systems. Many of the people now “concerned” are newcomers to these neighborhoods — beneficiaries of gentrification, not victims. And while they may have financial leverage, they don’t have more right to the street than the rest of us.

We’re not invisible. We’re not disposable. We’re not a threat. We are part of the soul of Charlotte — and we’re asking to be treated with basic dignity and respect.

Irena Robinson is a seamstress, designer, stylist and retail vendor who can be found at @getartistpaid on Instagram.