Cart Blocks is a food cart pod in Portland, Oregon's Ankeny Square, in the United States. It is operated by Friends of the Green Loop[1] and has capacity for 24 to 26 carts.[2]
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The pod opened in 2021, following closure of the Alder Street food cart pod in 2019.[3][4] Permitting for the pod took longer than expected.[5] Some of the food carts that had been displaced by the closing and developing of the former location were temporarily housed at a nearby Post Office and eventually moved here to continue their businesses.[6]
The pod is part of a vision to revitalize downtown Portland through building a “culinary corridor,” which would allow carts to occupy parking spaces across several North-South blocks[7] stretching from Portland State University to NW Burnside Blvd as part of the Green Loop.[8] Former mayor Ted Wheeler supported the Cart Blocks by setting aside financing for them in his budget recommendations for 2021[9] and a federal grant was obtained in 2022 to connect the Cart Blocks with Darcelle XV Plaza.[10]
The city hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the pod's opening.[11] In December 2023, Portland signed a five-year deal to keep the pod open.[12]
The pod has hosted events. In 2023, the site hosted a floral installation,[13] as well as a dance party and ice cream social following the Pride Bike Ride.[14][15][16] In 2024, the Cart Blocks hosted another dance party for Pride[17] and a Juneteenth market highlighting Black-owned businesses.[18] In 2025, the pod hosted "illuminated" performances as part of an LED drag show.[19]
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Businesses that have operated at the site include:
Media related to Cart Blocks at Wikimedia Commons
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