Food Truck Backlash Rolling Full Steam Ahead

Flickr user bitchcakesny

Now that the warm weather is bringing food truck patrons out of hibernation, some brick-and-mortar restaurants have begun complaining about their mobile competition. Brooklyn Paper reports on growing tension on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn, a hot spot of truck activity with favorites like Endless Summer and Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream, where restaurant owners are blaming the trucks for bad business.

Blackbird Café owner Emmanuel Cris said, "They affect business in the area in a pretty detrimental way...It’s tough enough to pay rent in this neighborhood." Overhead costs on a truck are definitely much lower, letting them sell food for cheaper and at different locations throughout the day. New York Muffin is also complaining that the trucks haven't been disposing of their trash properly. "When you come to Bedford Avenue in the morning, the neighborhood stinks because of them. They drop all their disposals in the sewer." However, the co-owners of the Endless Summer taco truck say no one has confronted them about any problems.

This may just be a case of restaurant owners becoming annoyed that the trucks decided to park their delicious offerings directly outside of their doors. A Bliss Cafe employee told us, "We see [the trucks] a block off one way or a block off the other way, but they don't really affect us. They're not leaving any garbage on our door," and Hannah at Fornino said they "never even considered" that the trucks could be a problem. But both Blackbird Cafe and New York Muffin are located closer to the truck's typical parking spot than Bliss or Fornino. The only way they're ever going to settle this is with a food fight demolition derby.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jaya Saxena in Food on March 25, 2010 10:28 AM

Comments [rss]

dgeee

Apparently the standards of hygiene as dictated by the city are higher for food trucks than they are for restaurants. Given that, who wants to eat at an overpriced restaurant where the undocumented and underpaid kitchen help doesn't bother washing their hands after taking a sh*t?

bittycakes

OMG It's my photo *and* my beloved Hello Kitty Beach Cruiser! Thank you for using this photo, Jaya! I'm so excited!!!

mingusahum

What a bunch of whiners! Both of these places are way over-priced. Being from California, I have to say that Endless Summer is just Ok, but at least the portions are pretty substantial. The ice cream truck is good but way overpriced, I've seen it or one of it's brother's in soho and the west village recently, seems to be a better spot.

Knock down those ten asian fusion restaurants between 5th and 7th and bring some dumpling trucks, pommes frites truck (don't know if they exist but it seems obvious enough), and a Caracas truck.

NannyState

Funny how the restaurants and cafes that do well DON'T complain about food trucks.

Cannibal

Sounds like the owner of Blackbird is an entitled whiner. Did he think he was going to be the only business on Bedford avenue or something? Maybe if the taco truck across the street is offering some competition he needs to step it up instead of bitching.

WTF did he think he was doing to other shops in the area when he opened Blackbird? Or is Blackbird part of Historical Williamsburg?

Cannibal

Overpriced shops on Bedford are complaining because there is some business competition? STOP EVERYTHING!!!!!

R. H.

As someone who lives in the area, I would much rather eat a Taco from the Taco Truck than brave the ridiculousness at Blackbird. Maybe they should work on their own menu and their customer service before blaming others. And, New York Muffin is a chain, I don't go there, I don't like muffins.

whitecastlerock

My comment was deleted? Why? I said the ice cream @ Van Leeuwen was overpriced. Oh I mentioned a hipster woman served me the $4 small cup. Whatever. it is a fucking rip off. Thanks

chuzzlewit

wild pansy said the "f word for gay people" (in reference to a truck!) so you got yanked by proxy. what an utter load of shit - my time at gothamist may be drawing to a close, i fear.

whitecastlerock

Shit! I agreed with the sentiments of the ice cream being over priced but not the homophobic commentary. My apologies. I don't condone slurs. Thanks

Abbott

Yeah you would probably be happier on a site that supports homophobic slurs. Would you feel the same way if wild pansy referred to that truck with the "N" word?

chuzzlewit

its a truck, nitwit.

junglisticman

It is all real simple. Ungentrify the neighborhood, send the smell hipsters back to the midwest, and suddenly rents will go down and the trucks will go awway. Those people that took over that neighborhood, have had a detrimental effect.

wobbleSmith

all you have to do is click your heels together three times and say "there's no place like home" and everything is magically "ungentrified"...

watch out for that sudden rise in felony crime!

handsomedevil

It's all real simple.

rob

Sorry, correction, the vacant lot I spoke of is a construction lot which will soon be overpriced apartments.

And yes, endless summer's tacos are average at best.

teenseagull

endless summer is the worst taco stand i've ever eaten from.

rob

For the record Endless Summer parks directly in front of a wine store and a vacant lot. Across the street is a Bodega.

Van Leeuwen kind of parks where ever.

The Blackbird is always crowded when I walk by.

Do they sell ice cream? Doutbful. Doesn't seem like a valid argument to me.

Maybe revisit your business plan and offer something that is more enticing than a crowded coffee shop.

For the trash complaint, I dunno. Can't speak from experience.

There is an ever better mexican cart that parks on Metropolitan and Bedford in the summer. Killer food made with kindness.

rasputinsghost

Food trucks foster democracy, diversity, and most of all cheap. Fuck the haters, street food forever.

Splicer

I want the best thing I can get at the cheapest price. If I buy a couple of hot dogs from in front of my workplace, I don't have to put a 20% tip on top of what I overpaid.