“I spent a good year visiting food cart pods around the region,” Shortt said.

After tasting the food at each location, Shortt asked the carts she deemed best about potentially opening a second location in Hillsboro.

“I personally curated the assortment of businesses you will find at Hillsboro Downtown Station.”

In addition to taste testing, Shortt made sure each vendor would provide something different and unique — so they did not directly compete with each other.

“It was really important that we didn’t have a bunch of carts with the same menu items,” Shortt said.  “We really wanted to lean into the authentic culture of our diverse community with the aim of providing memorable and original food experiences. We wanted this place to feel like its own special community, where everyone believes in and supports ones another.”

As an example, Shortt noted that although there are three Mexican food carts, they all have different menus and offer different items.

The Downtown Station food cart plaza didn’t open overnight. It took a clear vision and years of hard work to transform the former 1940s Studebaker dealership into what it is today. 

Now home to an indoor food hall, just four years ago the interior had been devastated by fire damage. The developer transformed the interior reusing and salvaging what they could of the former space, including making the indoor tables and bar façade from reclaimed and repurposed wood.

“Early on in the process, before the redevelopment happened in earnest, I brought prospective business owners to the site,” Shortt said. “I would bring them to this gutted, hollowed building and explain to them the vision for the food cart plaza. In those early days, it was an absolute leap of faith for those business owners agreeing to be here.”

The interior now boasts two additional food vendors — a café and a dessert spot — an indoor bar with 36 different types of drinks on tap, and seating for 320 people. Huge fans, roll up doors and a custom fireplace ensure that the food hall can be enjoyed in all seasons. 

Now, the owners are in the process of renovating the lot adjacent to the plaza to provide 24 dedicated parking spots, in addition to the parking available along side streets. Making the already convenient location — just one block from the Hillsboro Central MAX station — even more accessible.

Hillsboro Downtown Station Food Cart Plaza is open at 320 SE Baseline Street from 11 am to 8 pm daily, with coffee and breakfast starting at 8 am.

* Menu items, prices and vendors are subject to change. 

Community Conversations: Downtown Hillsboro

In June 2024, Mayor Steve Callaway gathered local experts to discuss Downtown Hillsboro's three unique hubs: Main Street and the Avenues, Calle Diez/10th Avenue, and M&M Marketplace! Featuring:

• Nik Whitcomb, Producing Artistic Director of Bag&Baggage
• EJ Payne, Executive Director of the Hillsboro Downtown Partnership
• Jaime Miranda, Owner of M&M Marketplace

Downtown Hillsboro resources:

• Hillsboro Downtown Partnership
• Food & Drinks in Downtown Hillsboro
• Hillsboro Cultural Arts District
• Downtown Hillsboro events
• Shopping in Downtown Hillsboro
• Block 67

Other stories you may be interested in:

• Main Street Commons Opens to a Revitalized Downtown 
• Oregon Wine Month & Hillsboro Art Walk Join Together In Cultural Arts District
• Free Food Market Opens on Second Tuesdays
• Artist Selected for New Mural at M&M Marketplace
• KGW-TV Features Artists Creating Public Murals in Downtown
• Futsal in Hillsboro: New Opportunities to Play
• Hillsboro Ranked among 'Best Places to Live’ in America (Again!)
• New Electric Vehicle Charging Station in Downtown Hillsboro