Food Cart Pod Checkpoint 221: ‘A Place Where Generations Get Together'

Roy Long had never stepped foot in a food cart pod as of a few years ago. Now, he’s the owner of Checkpoint 221, West Salem’s first and only food cart pod.

Long first discovered the joy of the food cart pod while living in Portland and working for the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. As a father of four, he saw how the open seating spaces and many choices made the experience particularly family-friendly. 

“Everybody gets what they want, and the kids can run around,” Long said. 

He kept this in mind when a friend of his who worked in construction — the other co-founder, Scott Martin, who transitioned away from the business last year — had an opportunity to develop a commercial site. Long pitched his idea to Martin, and together they realized their vision. 

In January 2024, Checkpoint 221 opened its doors. The pod hosts 14 food trucks with menus featuring everything from tacos to donuts to Iraqi cuisine. There’s indoor seating with a bar, and when the weather is nice, outdoor seating, too. 

Long’s goal is to keep the business “family first.” His own wife and four children help out between other obligations, and Long said he’s one of few businesses locally who opt-in to employing bussers and dishwashers as young as 14 years old. 

“I go about treating them as I would any other employee,” he said. He holds them to the same cleanliness and professional standards, with the understanding that a teenager may need extra scheduling flexibility around school and extracurriculars. 

Long said he started working at 14, helping a local man in his native Philomath chop firewood. 

That was in 1990, though: “I wouldn’t give my 14 year old a chainsaw,” he said with a chuckle. But he knows the value of learning responsibility and the benefit of having some extra spending money as a teenager. 

He also sees Checkpoint 221 as a community gathering space. The pod has hosted fundraisers for student organizations from the local schools, and parts of the space can be reserved by community members for their own events.

“I work with the school district to do huge fundraisers here,” he said. “We try to donate the facility whenever we can.”

Checkpoint 221 also has its own events in the works. They’ve begun hosting Night Markets to showcase local artists, artisans, and makers. They’re currently accepting applications from community members who want to table and sell their creations. There’s no booth fee, to keep it accessible. Their next Night Market is April 17 at 4 p.m., and starting in May the pod will host the markets on first and third Fridays. 

Long sees himself as part of a community of small business owners. He values giving cart owners — who are often first-time business owners — a chance to succeed. He’s proud that Checkpoint 221 has low turnover: most of the carts who started with the business in 2024 have remained. Checkpoint 221 maintains a diverse set of cuisines, so there’s no inter-pod competition between food trucks. 

“Everybody sustains a good living, no menus overlap,” he said. “I want it to be about the quality of food for the community.”  

Long is a lifelong Oregonian, save a stint in the Marines. He grew up in Philomath, spent some time in Portland and West Salem — his two oldest kids are West Salem High School graduates — and now his family has settled in Molalla. 

That doesn’t mean he’s not involved in the day-to-day operations — four times a week, he’s in the Checkpoint 221 office or behind the bar covering a shift for an employee. All his employees are West Salem residents. He likes to view Checkpoint 221 as having a “symbiotic relationship” with the community. 

“We want it to be a place where generations get together and have a birthday party,” he said.  

Checkpoint 221 is located at 1233 Riverbend Rd NW in Salem. To inquire about tabling at their Night Market or reserving space for an event, email Roy Long at contact@checkpoint221.com or visit their website checkpoint221.com.