There’s something genuinely heartwarming about this one. Ann Craig and her family didn’t walk into Milwaukie Station Food Cart Pod as outside investors looking for an opportunity. They walked in years ago as vendors, set up their Wagon with the Dragon beer cart, became part of the community, and fell in love with the place. Now, they own it. The Craig family, who have deep roots in Milwaukie and have long been fixtures in the local food and drink scene, have officially taken over ownership of the pod at 11301 SE 21st Avenue.
“We have deep roots in the local community and a passion for supporting micro-businesses,” the family said in a statement released through the Downtown Alliance of Milwaukie.
The new ownership comes with an immediate community initiative. The Craigs are launching the Picnic Table Community Art Project, an open call for local artists of all ages and skill levels to paint the pod’s outdoor wooden picnic tables around the theme “Whimsical Milwaukie”. It’s a small but meaningful idea, turning the dining space into a living art gallery that reflects the character of the city they love. Artists selected for the project will receive a materials stipend, and proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis from July 2026 through December 2027.
The pod itself is the kind of place that makes Milwaukie worth talking about. On any given visit you’ll find a rotating cast of local food carts, cold pints from Wagon with the Dragon, and now live music as a regular feature of the experience The idea is to support small businesses and provide a space to support local music, setting the tone for what the Craigs want this place to feel like: a neighborhood backyard where everyone is welcome.
