Urban-Bamboo-food truckANCHORAGE, AK – Mobile food trucks are an increasingly popular way to grab a bite to eat, but tensions are beginning to boil between a local restaurant and its four-wheeled competition.

At the Brown Bag Sandwich Co. in downtown Anchorage, lunchtime often brings a steady flow of customers. Owner Antoine McLeod said Monday that on the weekends, it’s a different story.

”I don’t have a problem with competition,” he said, amid of flurry of hands making sandwiches, cutting pickles and handing out meals. “As long as that competition is taking place at a level playing field.”

When it comes to the Urban Bamboo food truck, McLeod said that competition isn’t on the level playing field. The truck sets up shop just down the street from the Brown Bag, on the corner of 4th Avenue and D Street, just in front of the Avenue Bar.

That’s where McLeod said the food truck parks in metered parking spots after-hours. It’s a practice he said is both unfair and illegal.

”It’s just not fair for someone to be able to pull up during peak hours, not have to pay any of the real estate, any of the fees, any of the permits,

[and] basically steal my customers and roll out at the end of the night,” he said.

McLeod points to the municipal code—Chapter 20, Section 30.02, to be exact —which reads “It is unlawful for anyone to use any public place … without first having applied for and obtained a permit.” He said he’s reached out to both the Anchorage Police Department and the municipality to address the issue.

A spokesperson for APD said it’s not a criminal matter and referred the issue to the municipal code enforcement officer, who did not return phone calls Monday.

“I totally love this kind of renaissance of great food places that are opening up in Anchorage,” McLeod said. “What I do have a problem with is … people operating illegally.”

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Urban Bamboo

Twitter: @UrbanBambooAK

Urban Bamboo brings “international epicurean” cuisine to the neighborhoods of Anchorage.

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