Innovation

• Push Cart Garage is a cart and clean space leasing company that works in partnership with some of the busiest food vendors in New York City, providing them with their business needs.
• "My business is a service that we provide for the food vendors of New York City. We lease space for food cart storage, provide maintenance, and cleaning service for some of the busiest vendor carts in the industry," Ahmed explained. "About 15 years ago, I figured that there were so many different kinds of food vendors popping up in New York City, someone needed to come up with a plan to garage and maintain these carts. Here we are today," he noted.
• Ahmed said the motivation for his business was simple. "The food vending industry was taking off and I needed to get involved, not to just take part in the booming industry, but also to help people keep their place of business clean and safe. They cook and serve food on these carts that so many New Yorkers and tourists enjoy."

Inspiration

Ahmed was initially inspired by the drive of hard work and motivation that food cart vendors in New York City have, especially throughout the busiest days in areas that thrive with eager customers. After several years of experience in the airline industry, Ahmed was able to observe the work ethic of others that inspired him to pay it forward with his own business. This conclusion came to him from a high point in his life which "actually happened when I was very down. You can say it was a low point in my life, but I take it as a high point," he said. "When I was 22 back in 2000, I was being furloughed from an airline company I had started my career with. After witnessing a slew of my older co-workers, who were already laid off once from the great Pan Am, get axed once again, it made me realize that I needed to do something where I can't let failures of others affect my life. I think in some ways it gave me a sense of purpose to do something and/or create something myself where I can control the destiny of the business part of the company." Today at age 39, Ahmed says that experience "gave me a drive that still burns inside of me. Every time I help a new owner/operator of a food serving cart/truck roll out onto the street of New York City, it makes me feel gratified in many ways."

Ahmed believes that "in 10 years, this business will be thriving with new solar power instead of the conventional generators. Newer carts are being introduced to be efficient and environment friendly," he noted. The proper cleaning and maintaining of these carts will need to be provided and Ahmed plans to jump at the opportunity to reduce costs, emissions, and provide a cheaper alternative to the gas driven generators currently running the food carts. Providing a safer environment for the next generation is important to him and serves as another inspiration.

Overall impact

The company's mission is to provide clean and safe carts for vendors and to advise them on how important it is to maintain a clean environment even throughout their busiest days. To prove his point, Ahmed said, "We've never had any of our vendors receive a health violation from the New York City Department of Health for failure to maintain a clean vendor cart/truck. All of our food vendor partners have a clean track record for safety. In some ways I feel that we have a hand in providing clean safe food that everyday New Yorkers and tourists consume every day."

Business benefit

Push Cart Garage's partners have established an excellent business reputation, especially with the guaranteed upkeep of a healthy, sanitary, and safe environment, as well as quality maintenance of the spaces provided by Push Cart Garage itself.

Social and environmental benefit

Push Cart Garage works in partnership with cart food vendors to ensure a safe, healthy, and sanitary environment guaranteed for cart food vendors and their customers. The company has never experienced any of its partnering vendors receiving a health violation from the New York City Department of Health, as all of the company's food vendor partners have a clean track record for safety and sanitary upkeep. The company holds a crucial role in providing safe to serve, quality carted food that everyday New Yorkers as well as visiting tourists consume daily.

Interview

Mohit Ahmed, Owner