Ended at #3:

 

Dim and Den Sum of Cleveland takes third place in 'Great Food Truck Race'

Published: Tuesday, October 05, 2010, 1:52 PM   

Joe Crea, The Plain Dealer

 

 

An outpouring of support from Cleveland voters earned the Dim and Den Sum food truck third place in the "Great Food Truck Race" series on Food Network. "[That's] third place out of 280 trucks," Dim and Den spokeswoman Amber Smith wrote in an e-mail.

 

Not enough to win the $10,000 prize -- but whether its ranking will translate into a spot for chef Chris Hodgson and the team on next season's series remains to be seen. Food Network officials are mum but, adds Smith, "we figure that they would ask us to be on the show, considering the number of dedicated fans we had voting for us every day."

 

http://www.cleveland.com/taste/index.ssf/2010/10/dim_and_den_sum_of_cleveland_t.html

 

 

Hello everyone I'm a new member to the site, but I've been browsing/searching the forums for quite awhile now looking for information regarding the start-up of a food cart/truck business in the area.

 

I only have one quick question and it deals with the proposed food cart pilot program from earlier this year: http://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/CityofCleveland/Home/Government/CityAgencies/Finance/RFP?_piref34_136352_34_121844_121844.__ora_navig=action%3Ddetails%26rfpId%3D1636

 

Now that the deadline has passed, are there any incentives, loans or programs designed to help a start-up food cart business? Also, I've searched numerous Ohio, Cleveland and Columbus goverment sites trying to find information on the topic, but I've not been fortunate with my results. I'm still at a loss as to who to contact and how to go about getting information for this endeavor. I called downtown today, the business license department, and after being transfered four times(and waiting over 35 minutes), I was told Cleveland didn't have any food street vendors other than hot-dog carts... I was fuming. No help from the city workers :?  I tried explaining the lady that I knew, for a fact, that there were food trucks in the city, but she was really nasty and cut me off and told me there were none...

 

So here I'm.

Any help that leads me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the time!

Joey L.

By the way, I'm planing on calling the local number on the pilot program and hopefully I may get a chance to talk to Trevor Hunt. I hope he can fill me in with all the info I need. I didn't find that information until after 6pm and by that time it was too late to call the offices.

Hi Joey. I would contact Dim and Dem Sum.  www.dimanddensum.com  They should be able to give you some information.  AFAIK they are really our only regular, traveling food truck that's like they have in other cities. There are some that crop up during special events like radio programs/lunches  but Dim and Den Sum is the biggie.

Trevor's a good guy who should be able to help you out. He's shepherded other businesses through the process (including Dim and Den Sum).

rockandroller:

i actually did contact "dim and dem sum" and they were somewhat reluctant, in my opinion, about providing me with all the necessary information. They just told me to contact the business license department and talkt o them...  :|

 

Avogadro:

thanks for letting me know that Mr. Hunt is willing to help, it makes the whole process better knowing that people at the other end of the phone actually care.

 

I'll keep you guys updated.

Thanks

Joey L.

Humph, sorry. It was the only place I could think to start.  It's really too bad the city is not more clued in about this, what a shame.

The city is if you contact the right area... as Avogardo pointed out, Trevor is where to start.

McCleveland: yes you are right but the city employees can be a bit more knowledgeable and informed about where to properlly transfer or direct a person, if they don't know the answers to some questions.

 

The lady who completely lied to me (I understand she probably wasn't aware of the program), not only was rude but I could tell she didn't want to be bother with my explanations of knowing, for a fact, that there are food trucks in Cleveland. She only said "No" and could hardly wait to get off the phone... I can't understand people sometimes :-(

 

If anybody is interested I'll keep you updated on the outcome.

Thanks

Joey

 

 

Good luck Joey!  I know a lot of people can't wait for more food trucks around here.

Thanks "X".

I called Mr. Hunt yesterday and left a voice mail. Hoping he returns my call on Monday and if not I'll call back on Tuesday.

 

Cleveland is trying help food truck start-ups:

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2010/11/cleveland_looks_to_streamline.html

This part of that article really bothered me:

 

"In Cleveland, the city's solution will be to limit the gourmet food trucks to "food deserts," places where healthy food is unavailable, and where, presumably, there are few or no restaurants. Two examples: near the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame & Museum or on certain quadrants of Public Square...The legislation also may set minimum distances between a parked food truck and a restaurant, Schmotzer said."

 

Is this the case for ANY other city with a thriving food truck scene? This just seems ridic.

Well, an argument can be made that a food truck could be unfair competition to a restaurant since they don't have to pay rent/mortgage etc.

If the restaurant is really good, it shouldn't be a problem. I mean, other restaurants are competition, but they don't have to build a certain distance away from each other, even if one has much lower prices than the other - is that "unfair?"

This part of that article really bothered me:

 

"In Cleveland, the city's solution will be to limit the gourmet food trucks to "food deserts," places where healthy food is unavailable, and where, presumably, there are few or no restaurants. Two examples: near the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame & Museum or on certain quadrants of Public Square...The legislation also may set minimum distances between a parked food truck and a restaurant, Schmotzer said."

 

Is this the case for ANY other city with a thriving food truck scene? This just seems ridic.

 

Is there a city the size of cleveland with a thriving food truck scene?  I think we recognize that LA, NYC, and most bigger cityies will have a good number of food trucks, but what about smaller cities?  Check out http://www.mobilecravings.com/ and you'll see that most cities cleveland compares to have one truck.

 

I think it is good that they are aiming to make the permitting process easier.  But from a city perspective a full fledged restaurant brings in a lot more tax revenue than the food truck.  Also, if they cause a place to close down then all of us on here will be bemoaning the loss.  I think it is a delicate balance that needs to be walked so that the food trucks don't have an inherent advantage.

^I agree with you, R&R- that part really bothered me too.  I think it would be reasonable for the city to charge the trucks for parking and maybe cap the number in any one area at any one time for quality of life reasons (those trucks and their patrons can get noisy), but they're not really selling the same service as sit-down restaurants.  Fingers crossed more trucks will pull people out of hell that is food courts.

Well, an argument can be made that a food truck could be unfair competition to a restaurant since they don't have to pay rent/mortgage etc.

 

but they do have to pay for maintenance, insurance and storage of the vehicle, etc.  It's not like they don't have expenses.

This part of that article really bothered me:

 

"In Cleveland, the city's solution will be to limit the gourmet food trucks to "food deserts," places where healthy food is unavailable, and where, presumably, there are few or no restaurants. Two examples: near the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame & Museum or on certain quadrants of Public Square...The legislation also may set minimum distances between a parked food truck and a restaurant, Schmotzer said."

 

Is this the case for ANY other city with a thriving food truck scene? This just seems ridic.

 

Is there a city the size of cleveland with a thriving food truck scene? I think we recognize that LA, NYC, and most bigger cityies will have a good number of food trucks, but what about smaller cities? Check out http://www.mobilecravings.com/ and you'll see that most cities cleveland compares to have one truck.

 

I think it is good that they are aiming to make the permitting process easier. But from a city perspective a full fledged restaurant brings in a lot more tax revenue than the food truck. Also, if they cause a place to close down then all of us on here will be bemoaning the loss. I think it is a delicate balance that needs to be walked so that the food trucks don't have an inherent advantage.

 

Not everything has to be about tax generating businesses, it's about reacting to the realities of what the city wants.  This is a quality of life/neighborhood quirk/something that makes cities interesting asset, that the city should be capitalizing on, and I'm glad they are.  It gives young entrepeneurs a chance to start off, amke some money, and maybe eventually start a sit down restaurant, as Dim and Dem Sum is doing.  Nobody that is going to a restaurant for a sit down dinner is going to say, oh well let's just get a chicken kabob dunker instead off the food truck.  There is no negative attribute to these food trucks.

This is the argument against permitting the trucks to roam wherever.  I understand and appreciate the survival of the fittest argument, I just don't feel its a completely even playing field.

 

 

Take this hypothetical:  I want to open a restaurant in a gentrifying area, like Detroit Shoreway.  I am going to spend between $100,000 - $500,000 to ether purchase an existing place, or remodel and repurpose a storefront.  Now, I have to hire staff, pay for inventory, pay for utilities, permits, marketing, glassware, silverware, coffee machines, bathroom supplies, security alarms, insurance, etc. etc., etc., on top of rent.

But, hey I am Punchin' Pat, and by opening this place, I have made the neighborhood more of a destination.  I took a gamble on an area, and it is starting to pay off for me and my neighbor bars and restaurants. 

Its a struggle during the week, but Friday nights we do great, and so does the whole neighborhood thanks to (lets say) Capital theater.

 

So, now I start to lose business to a half dozen food carts who drive to the neighborhood because Friday nights Detroit Shoreway is the place to be.  They get to bounce around the city and go to where the crowds are.  I can't pick up my restaurant and go to Case for lunch crowds.  I can't run out of food and simply close for the night.  I am tied to, and part of that neighborhood.

 

If they cut into enough of my business on my busy night, I may not survive.  Then I close, maybe a few of my other neighbors close, the neighborhood becomes less lively, the crowds find a new area of town to hit on a Friday night, and the food trucks follow them.

 

 

This is the argument against permitting the trucks to roam wherever.  I understand and appreciate the survival of the fittest argument, I just don't feel its a completely even playing field.

 

 

Take this hypothetical:  I want to open a restaurant in a gentrifying area, like Detroit Shoreway.  I am going to spend between $100,000 - $500,000 to ether purchase an existing place, or remodel and repurpose a storefront.  Now, I have to hire staff, pay for inventory, pay for utilities, permits, marketing, glassware, silverware, coffee machines, bathroom supplies, security alarms, insurance, etc. etc., etc., on top of rent.

But, hey I am Punchin' Pat, and by opening this place, I have made the neighborhood more of a destination.  I took a gamble on an area, and it is starting to pay off for me and my neighbor bars and restaurants. 

Its a struggle during the week, but Friday nights we do great, and so does the whole neighborhood thanks to (lets say) Capital theater.

 

So, now I start to lose business to a half dozen food carts who drive to the neighborhood because Friday nights Detroit Shoreway is the place to be.  They get to bounce around the city and go to where the crowds are.  I can't pick up my restaurant and go to Case for lunch crowds.  I can't run out of food and simply close for the night.  I am tied to, and part of that neighborhood.

 

If they cut into enough of my business on my busy night, I may not survive.  Then I close, maybe a few of my other neighbors close, the neighborhood becomes less lively, the crowds find a new area of town to hit on a Friday night, and the food trucks follow them.

 

 

 

It's business the playfield should never be even.  Each has their own market.  Just like the ECP, if a business went out of business, because of the ECP construction, they weren't a sound business prior to start of construction.

 

This is just another form of dining and brick and mortar restaurants need to adjust to a changing market.  Period.  Put your own damn truck or cart out there.  Fight fire with fire.

 

Its not about "fair" or "even playing fields" it's just business!

^its also zoning and permitting.  Where do you put certain businesses in relation to other businesses.

 

 

I agree, life isn't about fair. And more people coming to the neighborhood means more people going to punchin' pat's restaurant AND to the food truck, esp if the truck has a big line and a wait and nobody wants to stand around getting their slop on their dress clothes with nowhere to sit.  The trucks are battling things too, they have their own challenges.

I don't know how many customers are going to be "stolen" by a food truck, to be honest.  If I were going to dinner at Luxe or Parallax, I would be highly unlikely to say, "Oh look, there's Din and Den Sum.  I'll just eat there instead."

^I think its more the takeout lunch places that pay high rents to be near a place like public square.  If a food truck can pull up for free and park right outside, say, The Flaming Ice Cube's door, then thats a severe competitive advantage...enjoying the spoils of a prime location without having to pay for it. 

 

I agree its a dog eat dog world in business, but if, in the extreme example, food trucks put all of the public sq lunch spots out of business, think what public sq would look like when the food trucks went home for the evening.  There is a balance that needs to be struck and thats what zoning and permits are all about.

 

Doesn't Portland have a street where all the food trucks line up and park?  Like a food truck food court?  Does anyone know if thats by design or just how its worked out?

Hello everyone its been awhile since i was here last, but i've gotten more information from a couple of people downtown and here are the results:

 

Yes, the food truck program is still available even though the deadline has passed. Only problem is that the city will limit the operator to a number of areas, type of food sold, pricing and the source of the products :|

 

I completely understand the city's position trying to promote local farms/suppliers, but I'm not happy with the city's decision to dictate what can/can't go on the menu. I understand they are trying to promote a healthier lifestyle by wanting less fatty/fried foods but i believe it puts you in a tough spot regarding the type of clientele you can attract - therefor I decided not to go with the food truck program.

 

I did talk to Trevor Hunt(great guy) and he provided two other contacts. After talking to them here's my position - I can either get a full size truck and convert it into a mobile kitchen or use a cart, a la hot dog vendor.

 

The food truck option will cost upwards of $8k after getting a vehicle, installing all the equipment and getting the permits. And thats if I buy used equipment/discounted from craigslist or ebay. If I get only new equipment, then we are talking over $15k easy.

 

The hot dog cart will be a lot cheaper, you can find used hot dog cart for around $1500 and after upgrading/adding eqipment, we're looking at about $4k. The biggest problem with a cart is the need for a commissary kitchen. For safety regulations, I will not be allowed to cook anything at my home and sell it from the cart.

 

I'm planning on calling the local churches and social clubs and seeing about renting their kitchen after the new years. I'm hoping I'll be able to land something like that. That way I can cook/prep everything early morning and have it out for sale early afternoons. I'm only planing on doing this a couple of times a month, so it won't be all crazy, at least at the begining.

 

I'll keep you guys updated.

Joey

I completely understand the city's position trying to promote local farms/suppliers, but I'm not happy with the city's decision to dictate what can/can't go on the menu. I understand they are trying to promote a healthier lifestyle by wanting less fatty/fried foods but i believe it puts you in a tough spot regarding the type of clientele you can attract - therefor I decided not to go with the food truck program.

 

The cost and procedures do sound complicated and expensive, I'm sure, but i'm curious what it is you're wanting to serve? If it's *all* fried food and *nothing* local, I personally wouldn't have visited it anyway - you can go to a chain fast food place for that, no?  In terms of "healthy" though, I think that must be relative. I've had rice from the dim and den sum truck that's been swimming oil/butter. They have often sold burgers, which are by their nature fattening. The PBLT has pulled pork, thick cut bacon and mayo on it, and is one of their frequent menu items. They have sold fried chicken and waffle sandwiches. This is far from rabbit food. 

 

I'd hate to see you try to compete for business with nothing but a food cart given the lack of kitchen, like you said, and it would be really hard to serve a large volume of people from nothing but a cart.  How did dim and den sum get by these regulations?  Is there no way you could incorporate some of their practices into your business model and menu without compromising your idea?

hello rockandroller;

well my plan was to sell food that I love eating, I'm not mexican nor from south america, but I love eating tacos. I make a killer slow cooked carnitas, with handmade corn shells and slices of avocado and fresh cilantro... my mouth is watering  :-)

 

I also enjoy enjoy eating jamaican meat pies, which I have done in the past and sold at my job, receiveing awesome reviews from my coworkers. From adobo-seasoned ground meat with peppers, onions, potatoes, and cilantro. To slow cooked chicken with potatoes, olives and onions. Then you stuff that into dough shells and deep fry them.  Delish :laugh:

 

As for the "local" part, I'm all ok with buying local. Either from the west side market or dave's supermarket. But i'm not going to pay at dave's for something I can find at giant eagle... It just seems to me like they were really pressuring the business into their system, which I didn't like.

 

 

 

How did dim and den sum get by these regulations? Is there no way you could incorporate some of their practices into your business model and menu without compromising your idea?

 

I may be wrong, but I think the regulations are part of a grant program.  If you want money from the city, then you have to follow their rules.

Sorry what I meant about local was that I don't want to pay more at Dave's Supermarket for something I can find cheaper at giant eagle, which the city doesn't recognize as local.

 

Yes you only have to follow these regulations if you are applying for a grant from the city. I'm all for the city supporting new businesses but it seems like they are making a bit more complicated than it needed to be. Therefor if I decide to commit to this idea, I'll do it by myself, without the grant money.

Interesting. The tacos sound awesome.  Dave's is locally owned but I'm sure their meat isn't any more local than GE's.  But at least the $ you spend there stays in the community.  That's important to me but it's not a priority for everyone, sadly.  Sometimes it's more expensive, sometimes it's not, depends on what you're buying, what time of year, etc. I guess if you want their money, you play by their rules. I for one am glad they push people to stay local.  I hope you either change your mind or are able to come up with the $ on your own to get your truck as it sounds great, and that you'll choose to buy local of your own volition.

rockabdroller -- I completely understand the principle of buying/supporting local businesses. That's the reason my wife and I try to only eat at independent restaurants and we try as best possible to support our farmers markets. I also grow my own tomatoes, peppers, cilantro and I'm trying to grow garlic -- that way I'm using fresh ingredients in my cooking.

 

It's also my belief that the biggest problem with our economy is the lack of American run businesses and the goverment's support of imported goods... But that's a differed topic.

 

As you can see when it comes to the tacos, I can streamline the menu and offer 2-3 different fillings(pork, ground meat, chicken etc) and a combination of toppings which will provide a great food item for a low cost (less than $2). This can be achieved out of a cart -- check out Rasta Tacos in California -- but I still need to land a commissary kitchen and that's the problem...

 

 

Sorry for my spelling -- iPhone posting sucks!!!

<a href="http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2011/01/19/another-food-truck-for-cleveland-umami-moto">Another Food Truck for Cleveland: Umami Moto</a>

 

Jae Stulock and Sandy Madachik were packing their bags to move to Boulder to launch a food truck business. The business partners had heard how difficult it was to set up shop in Cleveland so they had no intent to even try. Before skipping town, however, they learned about the City of Cleveland's program to encourage more mobile dining options. In six short days they assembled the necessary application paperwork and were accepted into the program.

 

Madachik, a former office manager at an IT firm, and Stulock, a carpenter for a construction company, launched Umami Moto in early November.

 

"I have always wanted to get into the food business," explains Stulock. "Cooking has always been a passion of mine. Following the downturn in the construction business, I said, 'Now's the time

 

^Nice!  Sounds like my kind of truck.  Regular banh mi are so wonderful- I hope they didn't dumb it down too much.

^Unfortunately, it's a bit dumbed-down. The banh mi, though large, was somewhat bland. My friends who had the pad thai enjoyed it, so I would give it another try, but there was hardly any spice to the sandwich, other than a few peppers.

<a href="http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2011/01/19/another-food-truck-for-cleveland-umami-moto">Another Food Truck for Cleveland: Umami Moto</a>

 

Jae Stulock and Sandy Madachik were packing their bags to move to Boulder to launch a food truck business. The business partners had heard how difficult it was to set up shop in Cleveland so they had no intent to even try. Before skipping town, however, they learned about the City of Cleveland's program to encourage more mobile dining options. In six short days they assembled the necessary application paperwork and were accepted into the program.

 

Madachik, a former office manager at an IT firm, and Stulock, a carpenter for a construction company, launched Umami Moto in early November.

 

"I have always wanted to get into the food business," explains Stulock. "Cooking has always been a passion of mine. Following the downturn in the construction business, I said, 'Now's the time

 

 

anybody been to this truck yet? how is it?

 

interesting they use a japanese name, but serve viet bahn mi??? do they serve japanese food too?

 

btw the name means "good flavor vehicle" in japanese, which is kawaii (cute). hey what do u know my japanese classes are still paying off lol!

 

^Unfortunately, it's a bit dumbed-down. The banh mi, though large, was somewhat bland. My friends who had the pad thai enjoyed it, so I would give it another try, but there was hardly any spice to the sandwich, other than a few peppers.

 

Actually, one friend who had the Umami Moto pad thai liked it (he has milder tastes), the other one also found it to be bland. It's a little disappointing so far. We need to tell them to spice that stuff up a bit.

 

I don't recall seeing that they served Japanese, but they do have a Facebook page; the menu is on there, I believe.

Is anyone giving them this feedback? They can't fix it if they don't know what's wrong.

If by anyone you mean me, I only had them for the first time this week. When I have the chance to see them again (or a chance to hit Facebook), I can let them know. I did mention telling them to spice it up.

Not about food, but I could see one of these in CLE:

 

Four Wheels and Style to Burn

A new fleet of entrepreneurs are creating their own spin on the food-truck model some with seriously cool mobile retail.

By Regina Schrambling  |  Entrepreneur Magazine - November 2010

 

Already food trucks have shaken up the restaurant world, with ambitious cooks no longer confined to kitchens and committed to crippling rents and problematic locations. Now the mobile phenomenon is entering its second phase: retail. A small group of cutting-edge entrepreneurs, often from the art and design worlds on both coasts, is skipping the brick-and-mortar boutique for highly stylized sets of wheels. The movement is literally fashion-forward.

 

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/217413

City Living's blog posting (posted yesterday) on the new Unami Moto Food Truck.....

 

http://clevelandcityliving.blogspot.com/2011/01/umami-moto-food-truck.html

 

I just got a flyer from them in my door yesterday. They're going to be at my apartment complex on Friday! Now that's exciting!

Touch Supper Club has a food truck that they introduced via their twiiter @touchsupperclub.  Looking for names.

I saw another new food truck called strEat Mobile Bistro outside of the Flying Monkey on Sat afternoon.  I think it was their 1st or 2nd week.  I didn't try the food, but the menu looked interesting. 

antenna mag devours cle’s current crop of food trucks

Thursday, March 10, 2011

 

Seti's Polish Boys, in business since 2001, was another Antenna favorite. "You could say that Seti's Polish Boys is kind of the original gangsta of food trucks." The sausage sandwiches are topped with French fries, coleslaw and barbeque sauce.

 

http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/inthenews/antennamag031011.aspx

Dim and Dem Sum are awesome, but Cleveland has had food trucks for years.  Well at least in the 'hood :)  I've been buying Hot Tamales from Wilson's Hot Tamale trucks since the 80's, and they've been around since at least the 70's! 

C-Town Chow Down: A Convoy of Cle’s Finest Food Trucks!

 

Sun 3/27 @ 11AM – 3PM

 

Cle’s food truck scene is boomin’. Your favorite food trucks — and some new ones for you to try — will be parked @ Lincoln Park on Sun 3/27 for the C-Town Chow Down. The day consists of food truck food and live music and entertainment.

 

Truck lineup:

 

- Seti’s Polish Boys

– Dim & Den Sum [pictured]

– Cakes Plus’s – Traveling Treats

– Umami Moto

– StrEat Mobile Bistro

– Jibaro

– Pranzo Forno Wood Fired Pizza

– Oh! Babycakes

– and more are still joining every day!

 

Music:

 

Mame Daiko Japanese Drumming Ensemble from 11:00am – 12:00pm

Mechanics of Things from 12:00pm – 1:00pm

Latin Conga Group from 1:00pm – 1:30pm

Grupo Isla del Encanto from 1:30 – 2:00pm

Summer Solstice from 2:00pm – 3:00 pm

 

The perfect event to welcome spring — and get outside (FINALLY!!!).

 

Lincoln Park – Tremont

 

(courtesy of coolcleveland.com)

Dear Cleveland dysfunctional pols....get your act together.

 

Food truck owner grows impatient waiting for Cleveland's approval to operate downtown

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The owner of the popular food truck Dim and Den Sum says the city of Cleveland will put him out of business soon if it doesn't get legislation approved that will allow him to operate downtown at lunch time.

 

Chris Hodgson said Friday he has been waiting since last year for the legislation to make its way through bureaucratic channels....

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/04/food_truck_owner_grows_impatie.html

This is just f*cking ridiculous. I visit them whenever they are downtown and this is a really well-loved and well-run little business. I was there when they were on 9th, luckily it was before whomever came out and gave them a hard time as I would have screamed at them.