Digging in on Food Carts

Cameron McKeown and Trevor Manning are part of the push behind a new bar, deli and food cart pod at the former Wendy’s site in West The Dalles. They hope to be open later this spring.

A new hub for food carts as well as a new bar and deli with Oregon Lottery is digging in on West Sixth Street, The Dalles.

“We have loose verbal commitments for five food carts,” said Trevor Manning with Pomona Street LLC, the company behind the development. “So far we have five different cuisines that are interested.”

Manning, 25  is a partner with Scott McKeown and his son Cameron.

The McKeown’s also own the Pomona Terrace Apartments in The Dalles as well as the Portland restaurant Quimbys on 19th.

The company purchased the former Wendy’s building at auction after it failed to sell for $650,000.

Manning said they were adding utilities to the property, including natural gas, water, grey-water, grease trap access and electricity to give food trucks state-of-the-art services. 

He said they hoped to lease to eight food trucks of varying cuisine but would have the capacity for 12. He said they were comparing menus to ensure that food options were not duplicated.  

In addition, the company is also renovating the former Wendy’s building and turning it into a full bar with deli and Oregon Lottery Games. It will be called the 6th St. Station. The intent is to be able to sell wine, beer and spirits on-site as well as through a service window.

“It is the first food cart pod in The Dalles,” Cameron said. The site will also feature outdoor seating, free wi-fi, parking and an ATM.

“We hope to be open for our customers to enjoy some time this spring,” he said. 

Todd Bligh, 36, of The Dalles digs out a ditch so that utilities such as natural gas, water and electricity are available for food carts that can lease sites at the former Wendy’s site in West The Dalles.