This town is big enough for the both of them: Hub Bub and Mojo co-exist

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This town is big enough for the both of them: Hub Bub and Mojo co-exist

POSTED: Wednesday, May 26, 2010, 5:23 PM

Filed Under: Coffee | Food News

On Monday, our post about the new New Orleans Roast-pouring Mojo Gourmet Coffee in University City garnered some salty response from readers who believed it to be inequitable for the business to set up shop directly next to Drew Crockett's Hub Bub Coffee, which began serving Stumptown coffee near 38th and Spruce in October 2009. We touched base with both Crockett and Mojo's Kimberly Edwards to gain an accurate grip on how these things work — and to gauge how both feel about the strange situation. Let's state this at the outset: These spots are assigned to vendors by the city's Department of Licenses & Inspections (L&I), and are not hand-picked by proprietors. L&I divides Philly into vending "zones," and applicants are required to apply for a Street Sales license within these delineated areas, which feature a finite number of sanctioned spots. Approved vendors provide a list of desired locations within a zone, and spots are assigned based on availability. L&I recently created a new, never-been-occupied vendor spot on the stretch of 38th between Spruce and Locust, and when Mojo's number came up, that's the space they drew. Both trucks put in calls to L&I explaining the situation, and — somewhat surprisingly, considering its reputation with local business owners — the department responded quickly, shifting Mojo to the corner of 38th and Spruce and Hub Bub a few spaces down closer to Locust, near the parking garage entrance on 38th. While Mojo's appearance on the block came as a surprise to Crockett, he's taking it in stride. "Coffee is part of a person's daily routine, and this area's students and faculty and staff are coffee fanatics, so I'm excited to have Mojo in the area," he says. Edwards, who runs Mojo with her husband Guy Angelella, expressed similar sentiments in a statement to Meal Ticket. "We are not interested in stealing anyone's loyal customers, but want to create our own business just like they did and hopefully enjoy a loyal following of our own," she says. "While the situation is not ideal, we've realized that it isn't any different than a half a dozen bars on the same block, serving the same Budweisers, Heinekens and Bass Ales. Something is different about each of those bars and something is different about each of our trucks and menus. We will enjoy the process of discovery as University City finds out why we are different."

rory

Posted 2010-05-26 12:54:44

well, as the first angered responder, i'll say that's good to hear, though still far from ideal...had mojo been on the other side of campus, it'd be 5 blocks closer to me.

oh well. maybe the next time hub bub is closed, i'll give mojo a try. anything's better than the burnt espresso @ gia.

Foobooz » Truck Talk

Posted 2010-05-26 14:08:39

[...] also got a coupon on their web site for a free iced coffee or tea with the purchase of lunch. Meal Ticket has some more on the [...]

Sara

Posted 2010-05-26 16:34:59

Where's the Center City food truck love?  I know the permits and lack of space can be a bitch to deal with, but I would love nothing more than awesome coffee out of a truck.

Coffee Truck Showdown Ends In Charitable Coexistence | Under the Button

Posted 2010-05-29 15:15:23

[...] to City Paper, the city’s department of Licenses and Inspections decides which neighborhoods and spaces are [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 5:23 PM Permalink | Post a comment

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Founded in October 2008, Meal Ticket is a City Paper blog about food, drink and assorted other things that make you go mmm. We do recipes, interviews, restaurant news, commentary and much more. We don't do restaurant reviews here — those are handled in print, mostly by our critic (and Meal Ticket contributor) Adam Erace. Got a tip, question, thought or concern? Just want to say hello? Please shoot a note to caroline@citypaper.net.

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