Discover PDX Food Carts Coming to NE Alberta in Portland

The Alberta Arts District will see a new food cart pod this fall: Discover PDX Food Carts. “Discover,” for short, they are looking to have about a half dozen food carts in what has been at times an empty dirt and/or grass lot, and at other times used for food carts, plants, parking, and probably other things I’m unaware of.

Here is what we know so far.

Previously

Back in January we reported on plans for this lot—it’s next to what once was the Cruzroom Annex, not far from the Cruzroom itself. Both are closed. Here is what we wrote at the time:

“The applicant has obtained permit approval to develop a food card pod in a vacant lot on NE Alberta and 23rd Ave. There would be eight carts and portable bathrooms. They need an Adjustment first, before they can really do anything.

“It has to do with the paved area of the food cart pod considered the vehicle area. The zoning “allows vehicle area to abut no more than 30% of the north lot line”—that north lot line is up against NE Alberta, which is a transit street. The applicant wants to adjust things so that more of the vehicle area can abut the north lot line—they are asking for 100% vs. the aforementioned 30%. Here’s the Land Use Review in the permit section.”

That expectation of eight carts is now six. And the quality of the surface they will work with has been evened out.

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Plans for Discover PDX Food Carts

I reached out to the folks behind it, which also happen to be the owners of nearby DarSalam, Shaymaa Alquriqchee and Ghaith Sahib (they are siblings). Ghaith responded to my email last month with the plans for an end of September opening.

A lot of modern food cart pods have a building onsite—think The Callback, Fremont Garage, The Heist, Brooklyn Carreta. The changes at Pod 28 also come to mind. . Here is what they have in mind:

“Our current plan includes a nice seating area with a temporary cover to start. For the second phase of the project, we are planning a permanent covered area with an indoor bar, and we hope to start construction on that in about four months.”

So, their plans are in line with what most contemporary food cart pods choose to do.

What About the Cruzroom Annex?

While it might be fun to think about the two properties working together for the new pod (it had rossed my mind at one point), the Discover pod and the Cruzroom Annex properties are owned by different people/entities. The pod property is owned by a family trust; the Cruzroom Annex is owned by an LLC named ALBERTA STREET HOLDINGS, LLC.

And who, you may ask, is behind this LLC? It would be Erzsebet Eppley, who is infamous for her connection to the demolished Cowley Building (2734-2738 NE Alberta Street), which residents for a while have wanted the city to foreclose on the property, now referred to as the Alberta Pit. Looks like that’s going to happen.

All the best to Shaymaa and Ghaith on this project to bring a food cart pod to this location on NE Alberta Street.

Discover PDX Food Carts [projected opening mid-September 2026]
4980 NE 23rd Avenue, Portland
Discover PDX Food Carts website | Instagram