Food carts and food cart pods were able to weather the storm of the pandemic or perhaps even benefit because they were built for to-go orders and people feel more comfortable dining in the open air, said mid-Willamette Valley business owners.
âThe pandemic encouraged more people to try food trucks than before,â said Chelsea Headrick, whose family owns Henryâs Food Court in Millersburg. The pod has six food carts â including one that opened directly due to the pandemic â and will soon add a seventh.
âThe ability to have outdoors seating makes a huge difference,â said Brian Hovelsrud, owner of the Barn at Hickory Station in North Albany, a pod that has 13 food carts and a huge picnic-style shelter.