It is no secret that Roosevelt Avenue, the busiest street in Jackson Heights and Elmhurst, Queens, is the largest multicultural center in the United States, unique in the whole of the most powerful nation on the planet. According to a census report, more than 180 languages are spoken in Queens, making it the Babel of the United States.

Most passersby rarely have time to linger, and more so if they are heading to their jobs as street vendors. Roosevelt Avenue is the perfect example of this. Many people walk from one place to the next hurriedly. They walk quickly to their destinations, heading toward the deafening subway that runs overhead. The pedestrian movement on Roosevelt Avenue is so great that groups of people distributing flyers stand on the street, giving out advertisements, almost in the faces of those walking by. With so many pedestrians, it is only natural that there are many restaurants on both sides of the congested sidewalks. But who has time to sit and eat?

It is a well-know fact that Americans spend little time eating at home, but with the economy in crisis, who can eat out daily? This dilemma has caused many to seek out the street vendors who occupy this area’s sidewalks. A street stand typically offers food from Central and South America, like choripan, tacos, and quesadillas. This seems to be the solution for those without the time or money to sit down for good food service.

Stopping at a fast food street vendor takes less than 10 minutes, the foods cost $2 to $5, no tax is charged, and there is no obligation to leave a tip. It seems that the street vendors have the winning formula during these tough times.

“The truth is the truth,” says Patricia Gonzalez, a Colombian food vendor who has been living in the Big Apple only for six months. “You can support yourself. Certainly we are not suffering.”

If you talk to any vendor, they will tell you that there is little to complain about. It is true that business is a little slower and that in the summer it is better, but they are getting business.

“We can’t complain,” says Alejandra Gonzalez, from Mexico, who has been in the United States for two-and-a-half years. “Not only Hispanics come here. People of all origins come here, so the business is doing well.”

Unfortunately, not everyone can share the sentiments of the street vendors. Their accessibility and convenience become competition for the restaurants in the area. The restaurants see their clientele diminish, with more and more people eating on the street. While stopping at a food stand can save money, it also puts many restaurant jobs in danger.

A Friday at 5:30 pm, the restaurant Tierras, on Roosevelt Avenue, was almost empty except for one table. The two waiters were leaning against the counter and talking while the customers at the last table paid and got ready to leave. The two cooks were also waiting for orders to be placed. Meanwhile, in the street there was a line to buy food from a food stand.

“It is not fair,” exclaims Claudia Quintero, manager of Tierras. “Every day there are more businesses on the street. They earn more; they earn a thousand times more money because they don’t pay taxes. We pay taxes, employees and rent. Meanwhile they don’t pay anything.”

However, visitors to the area seem to prefer the street food vendors. Quintero says that business owners would like the street vendors to disappear, because their businesses are being jeopardized. Some have already filed complaints, forcing the police to patrol the area, verifying the licenses of the street peddlers.

“The police come to check the licenses, but if they are fine, they do not bother us,” said Alejandra Gonzalez.

The restaurants owners use the inspectors from the Health Department as a last recourse. If the vendors do not pass the health inspection, they are closed immediately.

“The Department of Health comes and everything has to be proper. The cold products have to be at the right temperature. The hot foods have to be at their temperature. They check on everything,” explains Gonzalez.

Some restaurant owners took the initiative to place their own stands in the street. One place, on the corner of Gleane Street and Roosevelt Avenue, invites clients to visit their restaurant, La Tia, as a way to provide more options.

The future is not clear. Even if the vendors survive, businesses will close and jobs will be lost due to the worsening economic situation affecting the whole country.

To begin with, restaurants have a high risk of failure. But, can organized businesses unite and rid the area of street vendors? And would that be fair? If one gets rid of the other, customers can no longer choose among the variety according to their taste.