Great Sphinx

For over 20 years, Muhamed Hussein's Great Sphinx halal food cart has been parked on 9th Avenue between 15th and 16th Streets. It was there before the Chelsea Market opened across the street, before Starbucks came to the corner, before the Meatpacking District was "MePa."

But now he's being told to get out.



Mr. Hussein appeared on NY1 recently to tell his story. It was his second appearance on the news channel--his first time was in 2008 when the Chelsea Improvement Company (CIC) told him to move so they could plant trees and bike racks on the sidewalk.

He told me, "It's a group of millionaires against just me," explaining how he is being pressured again to move by the CIC and the owner of the Taconic building in front of which his cart stands.

"Another cart is on this same block," he said, pointing to the coffee and donut cart some yards away. "But they don't try to move him. Why me? I got in the Vendy awards, too. People like this cart. If I move, even one block, I could lose business."



A petition is posted on the front of the cart, filled with names of his faithful customers. If you don't want to see Mr. Hussein go, take a walk by and sign it.