Beloved Bronx kabob cart faces potential closure over city fines
Known for occasionally giving away meals to those in need, many have seen Maria Iordanidis treat her customers like family.
More Stories
The scent of char-grilled chicken and beef carries into the air above East 152nd Street and 3rd Avenue - a smell residents in the area say they've grown to appreciate from Maria Iordanidis' Mama's Kabob's pushcart.
The longtime savory staple in the heart of the Bronx may soon be forced to shut down.
Maria Iordanidis, affectionately known as “Mama,” has been serving up shish kabobs and other grilled favorites out of her iconic yellow-and-blue cart on East 152nd and 3rd since 1968, but now says her future is uncertain.
Many say her food isn’t just about flavor, it’s about heart.
Known for occasionally giving away meals to those in need, many have seen Iordanidis treat her customers like family.
"This lady is the best thing that ever happened in this town," said loyal patron Gloria Sanchez. "The best shish kabob in town."
But despite her popularity, Iordanidis has been hit with eight sanitation fines in the last few months - some totaling up to $100.
Iordanidis says the growing cost is now putting her business in jeopardy.
“A hundred dollars a day is a lot of money,” Iordanidis said. “If I keep getting more tickets, it's going to affect me, and I won't be able to come out.”
The Department of Sanitation tells News 12 that while it "does not set the rules nor the fines" it is responsible for fair and consistent enforcement of existing laws, particularly in cases where public safety or sanitation is compromised." Additionally, they "enforce street vending laws with a focus on situations where vending has created dirty conditions, safety issues, items being left out overnight, and setups that block curbs, subway entrances, bus stops, sidewalks or store entrances."
The Department of Sanitation also shared with News 12 a photograph of Iordanidis illegally parked in front of a fire hydrant.
Sanitation officials say that they understand the cart’s value to the community and plan to meet with Iordanidis next month "to discuss ways she can operate within existing laws."
