Could anyone have imagined that colorful, boxy trucks selling burritos and barbecue and gluten-free dishes could stir up such a brouhaha?
Toledo’s food truck wars broke out in late June when Mayor D. Michael Collins proposed new regulations and fees on the growing array of mobile restaurants.
After heated town hall and council meetings with concerned citizens and restaurant owners, Toledo City Council tabled discussions on the issue for a date to be determined.
So the food truck wars have simmered down, at least until the next round of debate and deliberation. In the meantime, Toledoans who want to support their local food trucks can show some love at the first-ever Toledo Food Truck Festival, set for Saturday (July 12) from 3-8pm at the Collingwood Arts Center, 2413 Collingwood Blvd.
Among the rolling restaurants scheduled to sell their wares are the Ottawa Tavern’s Wanderlust Sandwich Co., Slammin’ Sammies, the Displaced Chef Mobile Cuisine, Antojitos Laredo Tacos, Bea’s Blend Specialty Coffees, Traveling Tables, Aunt Carla’s Boosh, and Mr. Bob’s Q.
The fest is sponsored by Miller Lite and will feature live music and drinks, with a $2 suggested donation going to support the Collingwood Arts Center.
Melissa Risner, owner of Slammin’ Sammies, said the food truck controversy is understandable since the trucks are fairly new to Toledo. But she’s seen how popular and successful they are across the nation.
“My husband was in the Navy so we have lived in California and Texas and Virginia where they have large food truck festivals and even dedicated food truck parks. It’s the big craze and I think it’s great that Toledo is holding a festival to showcase food trucks,” she said.
Food trucks have been winning customers over because they offer a quick and easy way to enjoy a quality meal, Risner said.
“You can get great food without having to go into a restaurant and sit and wait,” said Risner, whose food truck sells home-made specialty sandwiches and wraps.
“It’s a new concept for Toledo but hopefully more of these food truck festivals will get a huge response, and more people will get on board.”
The mayor had proposed regulations that would require annual permit fees of up to $1,000, impose limits on times and locations for food trucks, set high liability insurance limits, and subject owners to potential misdemeanor charges for trucks that don’t meet health code regulations.
The proposal was fast-tracked to city council, then just as quickly sidetracked by public debate.
“This is not good legislation for restaurants, for trucks, or anybody involved,” said Adam Sattler, co-owner and operator of Wanderlust Sandwich Co. Food Truck, at a “town hall meeting” held June 30 at the Blarney Irish Pub. Even brick and mortar restaurateurs who supposedly were on the defensive agreed with Sattler.
Josh Wagy, creator of Smash Toledo who is looking to open up a restaurant this fall called Kengo, in the Warehouse District, said, “If we want to grow the food scene in Toledo, food trucks are essential. I would have no problem with food trucks parking outside of my building if they’re not trying to rip off exactly what I’m doing. There needs to be a fair structure put in place, but as long as everybody has good will toward each other, I’m all about it.”
Joe Napoli, president and general manager of the Mud Hens and Walleye, was asked to serve as moderator of the meeting, and told the crowd at the Blarney that nobody was out to get them. but it’s clear the trucks need some kind of government oversight.
A few brick-and-mortar business owners expressed support for food trucks, tempered by concerns that the mobile restaurants don’t face the same health code laws as regular restaurants.
Among those calling for regulations was Dave Ball, a developer with multiple downtown ventures.
“It’s totally unfair,” Ball said. “Don’t charge me as a business owner to support food trucks. I’m just blown away we’re having this conversation. The only way i’d get on board with any legislation supporting food trucks would be with very strict guidelines on timing, location, and having the truck operators pay similar taxes to building owners who’ve made the commitment to stay here.”
Council woman Sandy Spang, who owns Plate 21 coffee shop, defused a looming shouting match with a proposed solution. “Columbus took about a year to draft food truck legislation,” she said. “We’ve been at this about four days. I don’t believe that any legislation will go through tomorrow. As we move forward you need to inform me and my fellow council members how you want to move forward with this legislation.”
The next day at the City Council meeting, a vocal crowd of about 90—including many who had attended the Blarney meeting the night before—showed up to voice their concerns.
The overwhelming majority made one thing clear: The proposed legislation is not what Toledo wants. City Council took the community’s voice to heart and abstained from voting on the legislation, sending it back to the drawing board for future discussion.
The voice of the people was heard in the halls of government.
“We went in today hoping that people would be heard and that everybody would come out of it feeling that they have a say in the future of their businesses, and we did,” said Sattler, owner of the Wanderlust food truck. “Ultimately, this is a victory for any business person in Toledo.”
