A new family-oriented food cart pod focused on good food — and not beer and alcohol — plans to open in downtown Redmond later this month.

The new pod, called the Redmond Food Park, will offer a diverse array of cuisines including Mexican, Asian and Mediterranean foods as well as Philly cheesesteaks, a fish and chips truck, boba, coffee, and ice cream. Located at 122 SW 5th Street near Rigoberto’s, the Redmond Food Park will have the capacity to host eight carts.

Its owner, Hoss Talebi, expects to open the pod sometime in January and hopes it will be a new gathering place for friends and families in Redmond.

“Our focus is more families, young kids and teenagers,” said Talebi. “We wanted to be a little different and we are focused on bringing the best food carts with the best foods within the surrounding area. So that way we can focus on family and friends rather than beer and alcohol.”

Talebi, a father of three, said he has been in the restaurant business since 1998. He is the owner of Dogs and Fries, a food truck he started in 2013 as a student at Portland State University. From that truck he sold hotdogs and hash browns. After school he moved the restaurant to the Bend Municipal Airport, and he will open a second brick-and-mortar location in Redmond adjacent to his new food cart pod.

The building that will house the new Dogs and Fries will have ADA-compliant restrooms and indoor seating for customers of the entire pod. Outside, where the food carts will be located, there will be a covered seating area and a fenced-in astroturf play yard for young children on one side of the building.

Talebi also plans to share some culinary delights and culture from his homeland of Iran by hosting a weekly Persian night featuring grilled kebabs.

Hoss said he made sure to focus on food cart owners when designing the new pod. He said his spot will include electric hookups for each cart, a grease trap, and a heated water system to allow year-round water usage and keeping pipes from freezing in the winter.

“When I had my first food cart, they just gave me a spot and said ‘There you go,’ There was no water, no electricity, no garbage, no sewer, nothing. And it was a struggle everyday. People think having a food cart is easy,” Talebi said. “It is a lot of extra work. So we wanted to make sure we set everything up for the food carts so all they have to focus on is to come and operate.”

Talebi, whose wife was born and raised in Bend, said he is growing fond of Redmond and wishes he could move to town someday. He is currently a member of the Redmond Chamber of Commerce and has a real estate business in town.

“Redmond still has that small town feeling and I love it,” Talebi said. “People have been very welcoming, very supportive. I love Redmond. My wife is a total Bendite, so she won’t move here. But I want to move here if I can.”

Talebi said he is happy that he can be a part of the city’s growing culinary scene and hopes to contribute by offering a new and welcoming space for people of all ages to gather.

“I hope we still keep that small community culture and supportive community,” Talebi said. “Both the businesses and the people need to grow and be more diverse. So as long as we keep the vibe positive and be supportive, I think growth is good.”

Talebi said there are still a couple of spots left for food trucks at the new pod, and said cart owners interested in snatching one up can reach him at redmondfoodpark@gmail.com