NEWBERG, Ore. — Residents driving past The Bite of Newberg may have noticed a few changes lately. For one, its signs now read Berg Bites instead of The Bite of Newberg. Vinyl banners now hang on the exterior fence detailing the food carts circling the parking lot on the east side of First Street. Occasionally, there is also an extra cart parked out front.
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This is only the beginning, said Christopher Hall, a longtime Newberg-area resident and former Intel executive who has taken ownership of the Bite of Newberg with plans to expand its role as a gathering place, incubator for food businesses, and permanent fixture on the east edge of downtown.
Hall purchased the food cart pod in July, stepping into ownership after retiring from Intel. He said his goal is to strengthen the pod by improving consistency, supporting cart owners, and gradually adding infrastructure that encourages people to stay and spend time.
His first step was meeting with the current cart owners. Hall has done pop-up cooking experiences himself but has never owned a cart, making those conversations essential to understanding the vendors’ needs, he said.
“My first goal was to work with each of the cart owners and help them be successful,” Hall said. “If they’re not successful, I’m not successful.”
Hall and his wife have lived between Sherwood and Newberg since 2005, but say they identify more closely with Newberg. Hall said James first spotted the Bite of Newberg property for sale, recognizing its potential as a food cart pod serving a growing community.
“The big dream is to make this more of a destination for people, especially in summer, when they want somewhere they can get great food outside,” Hall said.
Before entering the food business, Hall spent 27 years at Intel, rising from software engineer to executive. He said he left the corporate world with the intention of focusing on local, cash-flowing businesses and community projects.
“I’m a businessperson first,” Hall said. “This made sense financially, but I also fundamentally believe Newberg is going to continue to grow — in population and in community.”
Since taking over, Hall said he has focused on addressing customer complaints about inconsistent hours, particularly on weekends. The pod now has carts open on Sundays, and Hall has encouraged vendors to improve the regularity and reliability of their social media posts, as well as offered incentives for food carts to hang a vinyl banner on the exterior-facing fence.
“I read every Google review before stepping into the role,” he said. “The No. 1 complaint was consistency.”
After establishing more consistent operations, Hall said he plans to focus on structural upgrades. One improvement is already complete with the installation of a semi-permanent bathroom on site. He is also exploring plans to add a standalone beverage stand or cart offering craft sodas, beer, and wine. Customers are currently allowed to take food purchased at the pod into the neighboring Stoller Wine Bar – Newberg tasting room to enjoy with a glass of wine or beer.
Hall said longer-term plans include replacing the pod’s temporary tent with a permanent structure, reconsidering fencing that limits visibility from the street, and identifying ways to introduce community events and live music.
He also envisions the Bite of Newberg as a testing ground for new food concepts, offering lower startup costs than brick-and-mortar restaurants while expanding culinary options in town.
“Food carts are a great stepping stone,” Hall said. “Some people want to grow into a restaurant. Others like the simplicity. Both can work here.”
Hall said he hopes the pod evolves into a warm-weather destination with later hours, music, games, and rotating guest carts, particularly appealing to George Fox University students and downtown foot traffic. He also plans to occasionally cook on-site himself using an open-fire setup he is building — something he has tested in Portland and hopes to bring to Newberg.
“My dream is for this place to be more than just a spot to grab food — it’s about building a true community destination,” Hall said. “I want people to walk here, hang out with friends, hear music, watch fire-cooked meals, and discover flavors they’ve never tried before. The goal is to create something fun, dynamic, and uniquely Newberg, where everyone feels welcome, and there’s always something new happening.”
For now, Hall said locals should stay tuned to the Berg Bites social media pages on Facebook and Instagram, which will amplify messages from the carts about specials, hours, and updates, as well as new guest carts like Hutch & Lucky’s and Crust & Corner Detroit-style pizza, which have both popped up at Berg Bites recently.
His message to the community, he said, is simple.
“Come visit the pod,” Hall said. “Support Newberg’s food cart pod and help us shape what it becomes. This isn’t static. The food options will change, the site will improve, and I want people to tell us what they want. Feedback is a gift.”
Berg Bites Current Food Carts and Hours (Jan 2026)
Unable to see or interact with the hours list? CLICK HERE to go to the spreadsheet with the current hours for the food carts at Berg Bites in Newberg, Oregon.
Disclosure: Christopher Hall is a board member serving the Newberg Downtown Coalition, Newsberg Founding Editor Branden Andersen serves as President of the Newberg Downtown Coalition board. This story was reported independently.
