Downtown's First Food Truck Rally A Success

[WmNussbaum]

Random observations:

I see no posts from the vendors. Why is that? Can someone solicit input from them?

The rallies would be fun in the area was big enough - it wasn't - but the "big idea" is not rallies is it? The big idea is a presence of a truck or two in a location or two around downtown on a continuous day-to-day basis. Right?

A rally on a weekday would not have nearly the attendance I saw on Saturday. 

A food truck at a strategic location during the week might do okay, but not on the "sold out"scale we saw Saturday. Remember that on weekdays folks have to get back to offices and wearing your lunch on your tie isn't all that cool.

[Tacachale]

^The "big idea" is more rallies and more food trucks regularly and anything and everything else that can make downtown vibrant.

A rally during a workday might have issues, but a rally during a weeknight may be even bigger than this was.

This thing shattered expectations, and hopefully opened a lot of eyes to something that can have a hugely positive effect on downtown if we let it.

[dougskiles]

^Not to mention that downtown suffers from the reputation that there is nothing to do on the weekend.  Events like this bring people downtown.  I would be curious to know how many of the people who came for the food truck event stayed and did other things while they were there.

[fieldafm]

Below are some suggestions:
1. Host it at a bigger space that is more spread out.
2. Inform the trucks to be overly prepared for an abundance of orders and suggest they have back up supplies.
3. A display board with all the food truck menus (it was crowded and you had to walk through a sea of people to look at menus)

On a side note, I don't understand why Burro Bar and Chomp Chomp weren't open. I think they would have done well with the overflow.

Thank you for your comments and observations.  All were suggested (including peripheral businesses being open) except #1.  The lot the event was held in was the lot we had to work with(the adjacent lot is not Burrito Gallery).  I am very grateful for BG stepping up to the plate and doing something positive for Downtown. 

We did say on this site and on our facebook feed that long lines and selling out of food were to be expected, however I didn't think the trucks would run out as early as they did.  In future events, the plan would be to have a larger space and therefore more trucks (two really nice ones are almost complete and there are a few others in town that didnt participate-mainly b/c of space issues).

Thanks for coming out TPC and I definately appreciate your support and honesty.  Maybe we'll see you again next time... come introduce yourself.

On a side note I really want to thank (in no particular order):
*927 Events for the last minute help on tables/chairs when the first plan fell through.
*Eddie Farrah (the parking lot is his, you might have seen him there on Saturday)
*Burrito Gallery (for being such great ambassadors for downtown)
*Winn Dixie (who was very helpful when we ran out of one dollar bills within the first 45 minutes-had a stack of 200 one dollar bills which proved inadequate)
*Advanced Disposal (for providing trash bins)
*Everyone that helped taking money throughout the day... there were a lot of you.
*Second Harvest for the (unfortunately) necessary services they provide to our community.

If you would like to learn more about Second Harvest or perhaps lend a helping hand in their wharehouse on Jessie Street one day, check out www.wenourishhope.org

[fieldafm]

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/blog/2012/06/could-food-trucks-restaurants.html

I know for a fact that Chamblins and several Landing merchants saw customers from the food truck rally as I talked to them all Sunday. 

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/poll/poll/8297182

[Debbie Thompson]

Paul also mentions in the Business Journal article he would not want to see a food truck pull up outside Burrito Gallery during a weekday lunch rush.  So there is the consideration for existing brick & mortar restaurants...until we have enough workers downtown to support them, at any rate.  Like most things, it's a balancing act, isn't it?

[thelakelander]

^The solution is a simple one that can be found in a google search.  Here is an example of how a similarly sized peer city has resolved the food truck/brick & mortar restaurant situation in their community:

New Food Truck Regulations Help Cut Red Tape

With the increased popularity of food trucks and recognizing the vibrant street life they bring with them, Mayor Fischer and the Metro Council have revised several regulatory rules, making it easier for the small businesses to operate.

A new section was added to the existing Vendors, Peddlers, and Solicitors ordinance, to address mobile food units (i.e., food trucks), which was sponsored by Councilwoman Madonna Flood. Mobile food units are just one of four different street vendors regulated by Louisville Metro. The changes went into effect October 14.

“Food trucks add a new element of energy on the street and we needed to relax the regulations to encourage more of them,” said Fischer. “This is a win-win for the community and for these budding entrepreneurs.”

Prior to the ordinance addition, food truck owners found it very difficult, and sometimes cost prohibitive, to navigate and satisfy state and local regulations through the Departments of Health and Inspections, Permits and Licenses, as well as find locations that met the letter of the law.

With the changes in place, food trucks can now legally exist, owners need secure only one permit per vehicle, rather than one permit per location, and buffer zones were reduced by half â€" to 200 feet from residentially zoned properties, and to 150 feet from bricks and mortar establishments with similar products.

Councilwoman Flood added that “these changes will preserve public safety concerns and also allow these food trucks to conduct business in a less costly and more efficient manner.”

A new service for the mobile food unit owners has been added to the Louisville website, which is a one-stop shop for all changes, regulatory standards and requirements, and fee information.

Louisville's food truck page: http://www.louisvilleky.gov/Business/foodtrucks/

[Dreads0518]

Great Rally!!!
Here's a suggestion.
Jax Food Truck Park.
Its being done in San Fran and Atlanta.  Maybe more cities.
Take a look
http://www.atlantafoodtruckpark.com/
http://www.somastreatfoodpark.com/

I have no idea why Im giving a suggestion that makes sense.
Jacksonville is always one of the last city to want to do something right. 

[fieldafm]

Add Orlando, LA, San Antonio, Fort Worth, Miami, Winter Park, Austin... well, you get the picture.

Everyone who wants action: write your City Council representatives about your thoughts on the issue.

[fieldafm]

Great food shots from the rally, on Jacksonville.com:

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/512296/denise-reagan/2012-06-10/what-you-saw-and-ate-jacksonville-food-truck-rally

A few more blogs about the event

http://blog.icaryn.com/

http://www.carriewithchildren.com/2012/06/food-trucks-jacksonville-florida.html

http://thefoodbitchblog.com/2012/06/12/jax-truckies-food-truck-rally/

http://www.starpulp.com/2012/06/12/jax-truckies-food-truck-rally/

And Jacksonville.com has a photo gallery.  Anita came late, but she did manage to snap a few shots

http://photos.jacksonville.com/mycapture/category.asp?eventID=1485096&CategoryID=57820

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Mike,

Visited these guys in Tampa over the weekend, conveniently parked in the parking lot of Cigar City Brewing, and they said they'll travle up to 500 miles for a rally - maybe give them a call for the next one. 

The menu is a little pricey, but they're serving some stuff that you may never see anywhere else.