Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995

The Kyiv City Administration thought that offering free rent to vendors willing to set up food stalls along Khreshchatyk would lead to overwhelming demand. Low temperatures have lead merchants to remain indoors, though.

holiday fare, the city even offered free rent along Khreshchatyk.

Surprisingly, the city has gotten a frosty reception from merchants, who said the weather is too cold to work outside.

Last winter, milder temperatures made it more comfortable to be outdoors. Not so this year, as temperatures have dropped, snow has fallen and gusts of wind make walking downtown an unpleasant experience.

The city says it will fill the allocated spots, but it hasn’t been easy to find the type of food vendors it wanted.

Mayor Oleksandr Omelchenko envisioned that between Dec. 22 and Jan. 14 an outdoor food court would serve up hot meals and drinks, including beer and mulled wine. The City Administration has not yet decided whether to permit sale of hard liquor.

“We decided to give the catering companies a chance to earn money and aren’t charging rent,” said Oleksandr Shkilevich, deputy head of the city’s trade department. “[If vendors don’t have to pay rent,] Kyivans will be able to buy food at lower prices, and the city and country will benefit from the usual taxes.”

Vendors don’t see it as such a great deal, however.

“We have been able to find only one catering company that has agreed to work during the holidays,” said Tetyana Yarova, who heads the trade department at Obolon District. “We explained in vain that such an opportunity would be profitable for them.”

Yarova said that merchants cited the cold weather as the main reasons for their reluctance.

City Administration sources would not name vendors who were invited to participate.

Some firms claimed that they lacked the proper equipment to sustain a long-term outdoor operation. Most are more accustomed to working from fixed locations.

For companies that do plan to brave the low temperatures, ice and snow in pursuit of seasonal profits, there will be additional expenses as well.

“The companies that are going to work will need to hire staff to guard the location, ensure electrical safety and other matters,” Yarova said.

The staff of Kyiv’s Svyatoshyno District Administration eventually found four catering companies willing to take up the city’s offer.

“Despite the free rent, it has been difficult to find companies willing to participate,” said Ihor Ostapenko, Svyatoshyno District Administration’s trade head.