Alex Gromow has been in the hospitality industry since he was five years old. Growing up in a family restaurant business, Gromow learned to work hard to achieve his goals. He moved to NYC after graduating college and worked in some of the finest restaurants, hotels and private clubs in the city. As General Manager, he worked up and down the east coast in several Yacht, Country and City clubs. Eventually, Gromow tired of having a thousand owner/bosses as is common in the private club industry and moved to Raleigh to be near his two sons. Not being able to completely retire, he decided to be his own boss and start a food cart business. It suited him since he still enjoys serving quality food and since it would be limited to two nights a week. All went well and his cart developed quite a reputation as the best street food around.
Mr. Gromow spoke at the September 10, 2024 City Council meeting:
Good Evening
A couple of months ago I spoke to you about your ordinance which forced street food vendors on Glenwood Avenue to close at 1:15am. I spoke angrily that night and for that, I apologize.
Tonight, I will merely list some pertinent numbers and briefly explain their meaning.
2 – the number of times so far that I am raising this topic
2 – the number of moves made by city government to cripple the street food vendors. First in 2021 which forced most to close at 1:15 and then late last year when you empowered the police to enter private property and force the few remaining carts to close as well. So long fourth amendment.
45 minutes – the three quarters of an hour that a bar only 20 yards away from me can continue selling rounds of alcohol shots while police get in my face and repeatedly threaten my business because I sold a bottle of water after 1:15. As ridiculous as that sounds, I am not making this up.
$2859 dollars – that’s the gross sales for my cart July of 2024. After backing out state, county and transportation taxes, food cost and state health and city permit fees, that’s operating at a loss.
$7500 dollars – that’s the gross sales from the same period last year. A nearly threefold increase in sales and therefore income.
2 – the employees I don’t want to let go and the only reason I keep going out there every weekend.
And speaking of employees…
13 – the number of carts that used to be on the six block stretch of Glenwood South and its side streets.
3 – The number that’s left by the end of this July. That’s 10 very small businesses shuttered. That’s at least 10 people out of work. Now, for the most part, these were not their main jobs. These are people who are working 2 to 3 jobs so they could better their families lives. These were side gig jobs working hard and late into the night. These jobs were important to them and their families; a better stocked fridge, better school supplies, a happier Christmas. In these times of sky-high prices, I hope and pray that they landed on their feet. These are the little people your vote impacted.
And finally
Zero – The number of city council members that would accept a sudden, cruel and unwarranted loss of employment or a 75% percent cut in their pay.
Now, I’m willing to believe that you weren’t aware of the nature and timing of sales in my little niche business area. I’m willing to chalk this up to the realm of unintended consequences. You didn’t know. You didn’t realize. I sincerely hope that’s the case anyway.
But you know now. I beg you to do something about it.
Mr. Gromow’s previous comments are here: We just don’t count
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