The Athens-Clarke County Commission is voting on a change to a street vendor ordinance next month and it’s causing quite the stir.

For decades, vendors have been able to sell food, merchandise and services on the streets of downtown Athens. The selling of hot dogs, pizzas, drinks and other goods died down during COVID, but has been steady in recent years.

The Athens Downtown Development Authority recommends that on-site cooking and on-site food preparation on the newly renovated College Square be eliminated.

The change reads, “Street sales of food and beverages within College Square shall be limited to prepackaged foods and beverages. On-site cooking and on-site food or beverage preparation are prohibited in street merchant-assigned locations within College Square.”

Read more at WUGA.