EAST HARLEM — Food trucks full of ice cream, barbeque, lobster rolls and pizza will park under the Metro North tracks every Sunday from May 17 until September.
The Vendy Plaza, will kick off their summer stay this Sunday at East 116th Street and Park Avenue from noon to 6 p.m. Apart from food trucks and local vendors, the plaza will feature live music and other cultural events, said City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.
"We are delighted with the return of Vendy Plaza to La Marqueta," she said in a statement.
Local vendors include Neapolitan Express, a pizza truck that opened their first brick and mortar location in December, Tipsy Scoop, Mighty Edible and Walking Dog BBQ.
Joining them will be the Lechonera La Pirana, a Bronx-based truck that serves roasted pork, and Solber Pupusas, a Red Hook-based truck that makes traditional El Salvadorian patties. More vendors will be announced throughout the summer, according to a spokesman for the event.
Last summer, the City Council committed $3 million to revitalize La Marqueta, a once thriving marketplace that has been neglected for decades. Those efforts include repairing the infrastructure, attracting new vendors to the indoor market at East 115th Street, and holding more public events.
"Last summer, many flocked to El Barrio/East Harlem to enjoy the amazing food, as well as the arts and culture," Mark-Viverito said in a statement. "With the expansion of Vendy Plaza and the ongoing cultural programming under the La Marqueta Retona initiative, we’re expecting many more this year."