Food Truck Discussion

This week's Washington City Paper had a story about Food Trucks and the concern of local businesses about the effects the mobile trucks have on their establishments. Basically, the food trucks use Twitter and Facebook to announce their locations that day. The locations change daily so the trucks cover different parts of DC every day and some nights. This is legal because of a law that allows the food trucks to conduct business if there is a line waiting when they arrive (meant to stop or slow down mobile ice cream vendors).

Personally, I like the Food Trucks and selfishly I would like them to remain. They bring a nice, refreshing lunch option every now and then. There are only so many restaurants in the general walking area of the office building where I work - and they mostly tend to be a sandwich shop, a fast food burger place, or a buffet that doesn't change. It is nice that a food truck comes by with different fare once a week or every other week.

I can also understand the concern of established businesses in the area. They pay high rents, taxes, association fees, etc., to do business at that location. Now, along comes a mobile food truck who only pays the parking meter, pays one-time fee for a permit, takes business away from them that day, and leaves. One food truck I like has mentioned they would like to have a permanent restaurant in DC sometime soon, but I don't know if those thoughts are echoed by the others.

It is a tough topic because I am selfish, but I can definitely see where the established business do not want the negative effects of the food trucks. If I owned a sandwich shop or other fast, permanent restaurant, I would want the food trucks to go away.

BTW: Another benefit of reading this article, I got the Twitter addresses of other food trucks to visit!!!