BURLINGTON, Vt. -
New businesses are popping up in Burlington.
While they are small, their owners have big ambitions.
In the city, there are a couple dozen street vendor spots. When one is available, you can apply, pay up to a couple thousands dollars for a space and hope your plan works.
On Bank Street in Burlington Wednesday, you could find the sights and smells of Brazil.
"The recipes are just inside my head," says Felipe Ribeiro.
Ribeiro's stand "Small Place, Big Taste" is new this year. This trained chef says he spent $5,000 on his stainless steel dream, which is far less than opening a full restaurant.
Almost every year new vendors open in the Church Street area with owners who hope to do well and one day move off the street.
The Skinny Pancake stand opened in 2003.
"A tremendous amount of work and we made no money," says Benjy Adler, co-owner Skinny Pancake.
Alder says the company has now grown to three restaurants. Not bad for someone with a music degree and no prior business experience.
"I learned through the school of hard knocks," says Alder.
Alder says this is where they perfected recipes, cooked up a business plan and after years found devoted customers.
Around the corner, Ribeiro says sales are still slow and has had to make changes to the menu.
Ribeiro says he hopes to one day open a full restaurant like Skinny Pancake.
To get there, Adler has simple advice.
"You better love what you're doing," says Alder.
The Marketplace, which manages twenty of the vendor spots, says Vermont Teddy Bear Company also got its start on Church Street.
You can apply in April for the next open place.
