Monroe's Bar-B-Q to roll into downtown

[John P]

I'm looking forward to this. It's about time bbq came back to Downtown. Partnership with Intiutition in works too.


http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/423471/gary-mills/2011-03-15/monroes-bar-b-q-roll-downtown-beyond-new-food-truck

Office workers downtown and beyond soon will have a new lunchtime option when Monroe's On-The-Go food truck hits the streets.

Owner Keith Waller said he plans to launch his new venture as soon as his credit card processing system is installed and operational, perhaps by week's end.

Diners can expect most of what Waller serves at his west Jacksonville restaurant, Monroe's Smokehouse Bar-B-Q, including Monroe's famous smoked wings, pulled pork platters, two-meat combos, sandwiches, salads and more.

"We'll have 80% of what's on our current menu," Waller said, noting the food truck will offer fewer side items than the restaurant. Those will be served buffet style, he said.

And with Monroe's On-The-Go, Waller plans to offer food at lower price points â€" including a wings meal for as low as $4.95 â€" to attract customers to the new venture.

Plans call for the mobile kitchen to roll out for lunch Monday through Friday, Waller said. Already, he's gained permission to set up shop on private property near the new Duval County Courthouse. Other private property owners, too, have expressed interest, he said.

Legislation pending before Jacksonville's City Council will ultimately decide where food trucks are allowed â€" and not allowed â€" to operate. (Busin' Your Chops owner Curt Cavins tweeted last week that his food truck was cited by the city for selling on land zoned for commercial, residential and office.)

Waller said he's hopeful that once downtown leaders see food trucks like his and Cavin's in operation, that they'll expand, rather than limit, the areas they're allowed to operate.

On evenings and weekends, look for Monroe's On-The-Go to deploy for special events and cater to late-night crowds. Riverside microbrewery Intuition Ale Works has already inquired about availability, Waller said.

Unlike the Busin' Your Chops food truck â€" actually, a converted bus â€" Monroe's On-The-Go is a mobile kitchen trailer previously used in the film industry, Waller said. He plans to offer seating as well â€" including a pop-up tent when needed â€" so that walk-up customers can enjoy their food on-site instead of carrying it back to the office.

Key to any food truck's success is informing potential customers where and when they can find their favorite food. Monroe's plans to use social media sites Twitter and Facebook to do just that.

[fieldafm]

All the more reason to make your voice heard AGAINST the transient vendor ban, bill 2010-856.

It is a HORRIBLE piece of legislation.

Tomorrow will be packed... but any other day talk to Curtis of O'Brothers/Mossfire/Buss'n Your Chops about a real life small business owner trying to bring street food culture to Jacksonville and the obstacles you face, which will only get worse if 2010-856 passes.

Keith Waller should be given a fair environment to compete and be succesful in.  I tip my hat, and will buy some wings to support his courageous efforts.

[futurejax]

Who in their right mind would be for the ban?  I don't get it.

[fsujax]

our City Council members who will vote for it!

[hillary supporter]

i wish him the best. He better have is A game on, Jenkins Downtown is the best in town. But he'll provide convenience to DT workers.

[fsujax]

Jenkins is good, but he will probably do fine. I dont know if too many office tower workers walk to Jenkins for lunch.

[cityimrov]

Who in their right mind would be for the ban?  I don't get it.

The same types of people who don't want a car wash in Springfield? 

You live in Jacksonville, FL. You'll always find someone against something in this town.  Even if you give away your own free stuff or free food to others!

[urbanlibertarian]

Who in their right mind would be for the ban?  I don't get it.

The same types of people who don't want a car wash in Springfield? 

You live in Jacksonville, FL. You'll always find someone against something in this town.  Even if you give away your own free stuff or free food to others!

"Brick and mortar" businesses fear the competition from transient vendors.  They press politicians to enact laws and regulation to stifle competition rather than just out-compete them with superior quality and price.  It's crony capitalism and it's anti-consumer.

[fieldafm]

Jenkins(while good) has gotten a tad expensive. 

[copperfiend]

Who in their right mind would be for the ban?  I don't get it.

You live in Jacksonville, right? This town is bass ackwards.

[peestandingup]

Who in their right mind would be for the ban?  I don't get it.

our City Council members who will vote for it!

You know they will, because this town is run by a bunch of local yokel idiots who've been in the same positions for years & have no idea what a real city is supposed to be like. It's the reason why we're in the shape we're in now here.

They don't understand that this sort of stuff really drives economies, especially ones that are in the pits, because it gives people who aren't filthy rich or big investors a chance to distribute good products at good prices. Sometimes food service owners don't need a brick & mortar storefront.

But these clowns want you to be part of the system & take out a second mortgage on your house, pay a bunch of taxes, city fees, etc just to be able to serve a few items. These mobile services can sustain themselves longer & likely stay in business, instead of being one of the countless food/bar/cafe businesses you see that end up closing 6 months after they open (which happens A LOT here) because they end up bleeding out from huge rents & other bogus fees. Their overhead ends up killing them.

It also promotes urbanism & walkability, a concept this town obviously has a hard time grasping. "You mean they don't have a parking lot or a drive through?? That's crazy!"

[wsansewjs]

Jenkins(while good) has gotten a tad expensive.  

After visiting quite few BBQ places across the country including St. Louis, Memphis, all over Alabama, Virginia, other part of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, and others, Jenkin's doesn't rank up in the top 20 best BBQ in my opinion. I have tried and ate at Jenkin's on two different occasions. Both were good enough in its own class, but not even close to Bubbalicious's in Orlando or Dreamland's in Birmingham.

I want to add that by allowing other competitors to come in (non-mobile or mobile), it would enhance and improve their own food under the competition's pressure which would swing in the customer's favor.

-Josh