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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Man suffers burns in gasoline fire at Medford trailer park Nighttime lane closures coming to section of Biddle Road Several chances to learn how to use e-reader at libraries Emergency services Since You Asked: Fracking and the LNG pipeline Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services UPDATED: Body found in Greensprings area is Klamath Falls fugitive Former Klamath County District Attorney Ed Caleb dies Man who allegedly almost robbed Purple Parrot returns Medford burglary nets guns, electronics and cash Politics and Elections Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration Ashland aims for diversity, but numbers show shortfall Kent Bush: The keys to decoding the State of the Union address Oregon Legislature convenes, session starts Feb. 12 Education Parent files discrimination complaint against Ashland schools Some gains, some losses Medford reconsiders full-day kindergarten State boosts class time expectation A wealth of experience Environment Commissioners won't object to BLM road closures Mt. 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Live Music in Local Clubs Terrapin Flyer plays Historic Ashland Armory Eric Johnson and Mike Stern at The Rogue Theatre Alcyon Massive and Frankie Hernandez play acoustic at Howiee's Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Theater Classics, premiers highlight '15 season for OSF Randall Theatre presents playwright Charles Ludlam's comedy "The Mystery of Irma Vep" Roy Orbison tribute hits high note Thanks for the Memories Theatre presents 'Cardenio' Thanks for the Memories Theatre presents 'Rent' Music Here it is! Live Music in Local Clubs Jesse Cook plays the Craterian Theater Shybo Torres plays South Stage Cellars Terrapin Flyer plays Historic Ashland Armory Trio Valtorna plays SOU Music Hall Community Events Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Paula Poundstone performs at the Craterian Len Dickson's 'Fall Harvest' to grace Belle Fiore wine label A look at the life and vision of Martin Luther King Jr. Ty Barnett and Ian Harris are 'Divided' Dining Sandwiches and burgers are hits at The Rogue Chef The Vine offers a taste of Italy Cheeseburgers on the cheap Valley View — It's all in the family Patty Groth's Morning Glory is still a delight Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Man suffers burns in gasoline fire at Medford trailer park ... UPDATED: Body found in Greensprings area is Klamath Falls fugitive ... Record low snowpack worries irrigators and resorts ... Man suffers burns in gasoline fire at Medford trailer park ... UPDATED: Body found in Greensprings area is Klamath Falls fugitive ... Record low snowpack worries irrigators and resorts ... Courting the downtown Medford resident envisions a bustling food court with carts and a tavern at a former car lot A lively food-cart scene in downtown Medford could evolve into a smorgasbord of cheap eats for hungry workers and students. Comment By DAMIAN MANN MailTribune.com By DAMIAN MANN Posted May. 23, 2013 @ 12:01 am Updated May 23, 2013 at 2:40 AM By DAMIAN MANN Posted May. 23, 2013 @ 12:01 am Updated May 23, 2013 at 2:40 AM The changing face --> of downtown: A two-day series Coming Friday: More than a dozen vacant storefronts plague Main Street's core, but some say a new urban vibe is pumping life into downtown. » Read more X The changing face of downtown: A two-day series Coming Friday: More than a dozen vacant storefronts plague Main Street's core, but some say a new urban vibe is pumping life into downtown. » Social News A lively food-cart scene in downtown Medford could evolve into a smorgasbord of cheap eats for hungry workers and students. "The more competition from stands around us, the more people will come," said Jaime Merlos, who runs Imperial Cuisine at the corner of Eighth Street and Riverside Avenue with his brother Ramone. Imperial Cuisine, which offers Mexican food and burgers, sits on a parking lot that could be crowded with food carts under a plan by Doug "Digger" O'Dell. He wants to convert the front-end alignment shop of the former Goodyear Tire store at 101 S. Riverside Ave. into a small tavern that would serve beer and wine to customers who would frequent at least six food carts in the parking lot. "If we can get the concept going, it will be really popular," O'Dell said. The 65-year-old Medford resident, who has run other businesses in town, has applied for a $28,000 facade-improvement grant from the Medford Urban Renewal Agency for the Digger Goodyear Tavern and Food Court. MURA could make a decision on the grant today. He plans to build a cooler on the front of the building, where brews would be chilled. Taps would be mounted on the interior wall, with a bar running down the middle of the building. An awning would be installed over the front to provide shade, and a roll-up door on the side of the building would be a nod to the building's previous incarnations as service station and alignment shop. O'Dell, who hopes for the same kind of success experienced by the lively street-vendor scene in Portland, already has gutted the interior of the Goodyear building and plans to install both interior and exterior dining areas. The permits and other preliminary work to remodel the building could take another three months to line up, he said. O'Dell hopes his venture is operational later this summer. So far, O'Dell has only Imperial Cuisine located on his side of the parking lot. Figgy's Food Truck is across Eighth Street on a parking lot owned by Valley Pawn and Trading. O'Dell plans to rent spaces for food carts for $250 a month, which includes electricity, and he is on the lookout for vendors who need a place to set up shop. He said he has received a variance from the city to cluster the food carts on his lot. His 33-year-old son, Doug, will be the bartender at the tavern. Doug said he got the idea while he was working in Portland. "I thought maybe a smaller version would work down here," he said. In downtown Medford, about eight street vendors operate on various corners from Jackson Street to 10th Street, on both Riverside and Central avenues. The number of street vendors goes up and down depending on the season and the number of customers, with many of the carts catering to college students. Melissa Jones-Hanscom, owner of Figgy's, said she applauds O'Dell's concept. "I think it's fabulous," she said. "It's nice to have everybody in a central location." George Kramer, a local historic preservation consultant, said the former service station isn't considered historic, but the O'Dells asked him to come up with a design that would capture something of the history of the building. He said this nondescript building is an example of a good use of facade-improvement dollars to help liven up an otherwise drab corner. "All of downtown development brings more people on the streets," he said. "Medford has such a large student population that the food trucks are perfect for that." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected]. By DAMIAN MANN MailTribune.com By DAMIAN MANN Posted May. 23, 2013 @ 12:01 am Updated May 23, 2013 at 2:40 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. 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