In our quest to keep our readers up to date with the latest stories relating to the food truck industry has compiled a list of the stories that hit the wire this weekend from Washington DC, Raleigh, Oak Park and Wilkes-Barre.
May 10
DC Restaurants Are Against the DC Food Truck Invasion Because Terrorism – WASHINGTON DC – Certain unnamed authorities at an unnamed organization are concerned with the potential terrorist threats emerging from within the burgeoning food truck scene in Washington, D.C., and from inside the trucks themselves, unnamed “confidential sources” tell one Washington Times contributor.
Ahead of a public hearing Friday pitting upstart mobile food vendors against sedentary street vendors and old-school sidewalk restaurants, George Farrell — a Washington Times “community” member — settled on at least one reason to side against the food trucks: “According to confidential sources, authorities concerned about terrorists using food trucks required adding manpower to monitoring the trucks.” That added manpower has motivated D.C.’s restaurant owners to limit food truck locations, Farrell claims, completely ignoring what The Washington Post reports as an actual debate over more food options and crowded sidewalks in favor of Homeland Security department “concerns” over a terror plot — because, you know, “propane tanks inside food trucks could easily become explosive devices” and food trucks “may pose a terrorism threat.”
Find the entire article <here>
Raleigh politicians, patrons come around to idea of food trucks – RALEIGH, NC – When Mike Stenke rolled out his Klausie’s Pizza truck in Raleigh three years ago, people would ask him what he was doing, and then tell him to move.
Raleigh was slow to embrace this new class of mobile entrepreneurs, and many of Stenke’s competitors hid in the shadows, fearing they would be chased out of the city if someone complained.
May 11
Oak Park Great Food Truck Rally: A Disappointing Success – OAK PARK, IL – Radical Underestimation of attendance, sellouts in first hour. It is fantastic and foresighted that the folks at Pilgrim Congregational decided to hold a Food Truck Rally in their parking lot this afternoon. They had no way of knowing what they were bringing forth.
Vendors were told to expect 200 people, and of 11 trucks, 3 had sold out within the first 90 minutes. The Meatloaf Bakery was out of goods within about half an hour. In the photo picture above, you can see people already waiting in line around 12:50PM in front of a sign that promised the truck would re-open at 1:30!
Find the entire article <here>
May 12
Food trucks, controversial in Scranton, heading to Wilkes-Barre – Wilkes Barre, PA – A food truck welcomed by customers and not welcomed by some restaurants in the Scranton area is coming to Wilkes-Barre.
Mario Bevilacqua, 25, who owns What the Fork food truck with Katie Grazioski, 24, said he obtained a permit to sell food at the Mayday music festival at Kirby Park May 25-26. Mr. Bevilacqua does not have set plans yet to sell food other places in Wilkes-Barre but he said he would like to test out the market and possibly sell other places in the city.
“We have a pretty good demand from customers on Facebook to go to Wilkes-Barre,” said Mr. Bevilacqua, whose Facebook page has more than 7,800 fans.
Brendan Bell, 43, owner of the Southwest Savory Grill food truck operating in the Scranton area, said he also is researching permits about doing business in Wilkes-Barre. “If I do it, it would be for special events. It would be difficult to drive down for day-to-day business,” Mr. Bell said. “People are asking us to come there. I have to see if it’s worth it. If the city doesn’t embrace it, I’m not going to come.”
Food trucks have caused concerns among some downtown Scranton restaurant owners, who complained it’s not fair that they pay taxes and food truck owners don’t.
Find the entire article <here>
