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And to see how far food trucks have come over the past three years, one need look no further than the largest mainstream newspaper in Central Ohio - The Columbus Dispatch.  The Dispatch ran a recent feature article about 12 food trucks that operate from Food Fort Columbus, a business incubator that offers business counseling, overnight parking and networking events for food truck operators.

 

Below is the link to the Dispatch article.  Also at the link is a pretty neat video about a "day in the life" of a food truck operator that featured Laura Lee and her Ajumama korean food truck.

 

Mobile munchies: ‘New Wave’ of food trucks broadens choices in central Ohio

And to see how far food trucks have come over the past three years, one need look no further than the largest mainstream newspaper in Central Ohio - The Columbus Dispatch.  The Dispatch ran a recent feature article about 12 food trucks that operate from Food Fort Columbus, a business incubator that offers business counseling, overnight parking and networking events for food truck operators.

 

Below is the link to the Dispatch article.  Also at the link is a pretty neat video about a "day in the life" of a food truck operator that featured Laura Lee and her Ajumama korean food truck.

 

Mobile munchies: ‘New Wave’ of food trucks broadens choices in central Ohio

 

I am gonna give some props to Blu Olive.  Delicious!!

  • Author

Food Truck gatherings are joining the summer festival season.  One is coming up this weekend during the Park Street Festival that is going on for its 6th year just north of the Arena District.  More about the food truck component from Columbus Underground:

 

Food Truck Roundup at Park Street Festival - Saturday June 9, 2012

 


Another food truck gathering is coming up for its second go around at Columbus Commons in July.  Last year's festival was more popular than excepted with over 12,000 people attending.  The only problem with that popularity was the excessively long lines for those attending.  They're going to try it again this year with more food trucks and better prep for the large crowds.  The Food Truck & Cart Festival will return to Columbus Commons on Friday, July 13th, running from Noon to 10pm.  Over 50 food trucks and carts will present, in addition to arts and craft vendors, live music and other entertainment.  More about it below from Columbus Underground:

 

Food Truck and Cart Festival Returns in July

  • 2 weeks later...
  • Author

Couple of items about food truck(s) gathering spots, which seems to be the next evolution in food truck locating. 

 

The first is a daily spot in the campus area at the northwest corner of Kenny Road and Lane Avenue.  This spot is being offered Monday thru Saturday by the existing Campus Pitt Stop business.  The owner is giving away spots for up to four food truck vendors, which he feels drives customers to his other businesses at the site.

 

The other is a monthly spot at the southwest corner of Parsons Avenue and East Gates Street.  This spot is being offered from noon to 6 p.m. on the last Sunday of every month through October for up to eight food truck vendors.  This spot is a vacant lot immediately north of Hal & Al's pub at 1297 Parsons Avenue and is being managed by Hal & Al's, the Parsons Avenue Merchants Association and the Merion Village Association.

 

Dispatch: Food trucks congregate at Kenny and Lane - Campus Pitt Stop, vendors drawing more customers

 

This Week News: Food truck, cart 'hop' debuts May 27 at Parsons and Gates

  • 2 months later...

Schmidt’s Restaurant launching food truck

 

ROP-Schmidt-Andrew-03*280.jpg?v=1

 

Schmidt’s Restaurant & Sausage Haus is taking its culinary show on the road.

 

The iconic German Village restaurant, catering and retail operation is launching a Schmidt’s Sausage Truck. But company executives see the venture as more than another entry in the area’s ever-expanding food truck scene. Rather, the initiative is aimed at helping develop the 126-year-old brand outside its Central Ohio stronghold and perhaps get the company into franchising.

 

Full article below:

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/print-edition/2012/09/07/schmidts-restaurant-launching-sausage.html

"You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers

Microbrewery drawing food trucks for gathering

 

Visitors to Zauber Brewing Co. surely arrive thirsty. On certain Friday nights, they can show up hungry, too.

 

The microbrewery, at 1300 Norton Ave. near Grandview Heights, has teamed up with the Central Ohio Food Truck Association for a series of gatherings generally on the first Friday of each month.

 

Full article below:

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/print-edition/2012/09/07/microbrewery-drawing-food-trucks-for.html

"You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers

  • 2 weeks later...
  • Author

Schmidt’s Restaurant launching food truck

 

ROP-Schmidt-Andrew-03*280.jpg?v=1

 

Schmidt’s Restaurant & Sausage Haus is taking its culinary show on the road.

 

The iconic German Village restaurant, catering and retail operation is launching a Schmidt’s Sausage Truck. But company executives see the venture as more than another entry in the area’s ever-expanding food truck scene. Rather, the initiative is aimed at helping develop the 126-year-old brand outside its Central Ohio stronghold and perhaps get the company into franchising.

 

Full article below:

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/print-edition/2012/09/07/schmidts-restaurant-launching-sausage.html

More about this from Columbus Underground:

 

CU: Schmidt’s Takes Their Meat to the Street with the Launch of New Sausage Truck

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Dinin’ Hall to Remain Open Through Winter

By: Walker Evans, Columbus Underground

Published on October 17, 2012 - 1:45 pm

 

After a successful summer, Dinin’ Hall announced today that it will continue to operate the Franklinton food pod business throughout the upcoming winter months.

(. . .)

Columbus boasts a mobile food scene of over 70 trucks and carts currently in operation in 2012.  This year also saw hundreds of summer events where mobile food vendors were a prominent feature.  Dinin’ Hall opened at 400 West Rich Street in May and has featured over 30 mobile food vendors on a rotating basis every weekday for lunch.

 

READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/dinin-hall-to-remain-open-through-winter

 

dinin-hall.jpg

  • 1 month later...
  • Author

Food-truck rules on city’s plate

By Lucas Sullivan, The Columbus Dispatch

Thursday, December 13, 2012 - 7:16 AM

 

Columbus officials are considering new regulations or clarifications to existing rules covering food trucks after problems that have resulted in fines and hurt feelings.  The city council has previously chosen not to regulate food trucks because the city has a peddler's ordinance that covers how vendors operate.  But the popularity of food trucks has exploded in the past 18 months, and the city is fielding more questions from business and neighborhood leaders, and trying to address competition among food-truck owners for space on the streets.

 

Council members have scheduled a meeting with the Central Ohio Food Truck Association to begin discussions about doing a better job of regulating the trucks. ... City Attorney Richard C. Pfeiffer Jr. said the city wants to clarify what permits food-truck owners need and where they can operate.  "We are also asking the question, should the law be changes to enhance what these food trucks do because the public seems to like this," he said.

 

READ MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/12/13/food-truck-rules-on-citys-plate.html

  • 3 weeks later...
  • Author

Food truck operators band together to seek rule changes, including on-street sales

Business First by Dan Eaton, Staff reporter

Date: Monday, December 24, 2012, 11:19am EST

 

Cold weather means quiet time for most food trucks, but there has been plenty to work on this winter.  Several area mobile food owner-operators have banded together to form the Central Ohio Food Truck Association, an industry group aimed at giving the growing business a unified voice on industry issues.

 

The group has 20 charter members, including Mojo TaGo, the taco truck run by Brian Reed since 2010.  Reed is the group’s inaugural president.  He said an initial meeting with the city was held this month and the discussion was positive.

 

Still, city rules weren’t formed with food trucks in mind.  The biggest issue is on-street sales, which are outlawed under current rules.  In these nascent days of the local food truck movement, operators are confined to private property like business parking lots.  The trucks can’t park and serve from on-street spaces.

 

READ MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2012/12/food-truck-operators-band-together-to.html

  • 3 weeks later...
  • Author

This thread started out talking about Taco Trucks in the Capital City before evolving into a broader Food Trucks discussion.  So it seems appropriate to check back with Columbus' OG food truck blog - Taco Trucks Columbus.  In this recent post, TTC looks at the past, present and future of Taco Trucks in Columbus:

 

Columbus Taco Trucks: You’ve come a long way Bambina!

By cmh gourmand | December 20, 2012 - 8:17 PM

 

Taco Trucks crossed the decade mark in the Capital City last year.  While still not quite mainstream, the acceptance of these kitchens on wheels has come a long way.  While the non-taco truck mobile food scene has exploded since 2010, the number of taco trucks in Columbus has remained about the same, in the 35-40 range.

 

However, the community has not stagnated. ... This year something happened under the radar that deserves mention.  Again, while still not embraced by Joe Average in Columbus, Taco Trucks have gone mainstream in one area....advertising.

 

READ MORE: http://tacotruckscolumbus.com/2012/12/20/columbus-taco-trucks-youve-come-a-long-way-bambina/

On 1/20/2013 at 12:55 PM, Columbo said:

This thread started out talking about Taco Trucks in the Capital City before evolving into a broader Food Trucks discussion.  So it seems appropriate to check back with Columbus' OG food truck blog - Taco Trucks Columbus.  In this recent post, TTC looks at the past, present and future of Taco Trucks in Columbus:

 

Columbus Taco Trucks: You’ve come a long way Bambina!

By cmh gourmand | December 20, 2012 - 8:17 PM

 

Taco Trucks crossed the decade mark in the Capital City last year.  While still not quite mainstream, the acceptance of these kitchens on wheels has come a long way.  While the non-taco truck mobile food scene has exploded since 2010, the number of taco trucks in Columbus has remained about the same, in the 35-40 range.

 

However, the community has not stagnated. ... This year something happened under the radar that deserves mention.  Again, while still not embraced by Joe Average in Columbus, Taco Trucks have gone mainstream in one area....advertising.

 

READ MORE: http://tacotruckscolumbus.com/2012/12/20/columbus-taco-trucks-youve-come-a-long-way-bambina/

Mexican food with and Italian description??  WTH?!

Mmmm. Mexican lasagna.

  • Author

Mexican food with and Italian description??  WTH?!

Obviously the blog's ironic juxtaposition of Spanish and Italian language to hi-light the melting pot of cuisines and cultures in 21st century America just flew right over your non-hipster head.  Either that or they didn't realize they were using the wrong language.  In any case, the taco trucks are authentically Latino, even if the reviewers aren't. :wink:

Mexican food with and Italian description??  WTH?!

Obviously the blog's ironic juxtaposition of Spanish and Italian language to hi-light the melting pot of cuisines and cultures in 21st century America just flew right over your non-hipster head.  Either that or they didn't realize they were using the wrong language.  In any case, the taco trucks are authentically Latino, even if the reviewers aren't. ;)

I think the author, trying to be cute, used the wrong language.  Also taco's are historically Mexican, not Latino.  In this instance there is a difference.

  • Author

I think the author, trying to be cute, used the wrong language.

I'm 99.99% sure that was the case.

 

Also taco's are historically Mexican, not Latino.  In this instance there is a difference.

These are "Taco Trucks" in a generic vernacular sense.  Some of the trucks are exclusively Mexican food.  Others feature food menus either partly or fully from other Latin and South American counties.  Hence the "Latino" description.

  • 8 months later...
  • Author

The Food Network series "Eat St" is filming Food Trucks in Columbus starting yesterday and over the next week.  Columbus Underground has a thread about this started by one of the food truck operators at http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/eat-st-filming-food-trucks-in-columbus-104-1010

 

The Eat St website also has their Columbus filming schedule and highlights of the food trucks they are filming at http://eatst.foodnetwork.ca/blog/eat-st-on-location-curbside-in-columbus.html

 

  • 3 months later...
  • 1 month later...
  • Author

It looks like the westside is trying to cash in on the food truck craze by opening up a food truck park next to the casino.  More from the Dispatch below:

 

Haydocy to open food-truck park near Hollywood casino

By Mary Vanac, The Columbus Dispatch

Wednesday, January 29, 2014 - 1:18 AM

 

Columbus auto dealer Chris Haydocy got tired of waiting for someone else to make good on the opportunity for a restaurant row near the West Side casino.  So Haydocy is building a gourmet food park on land he owns on W. Broad Street in front of the casino “to create a neighborhood gathering spot with a community atmosphere offering a variety of great food and reasonable pricing,” he said.

 

Over time, his Hollywood & Broad Gourmet Food Park is expected to host several vintage Airstream RVs outfitted as gourmet food trucks.  The first truck, Land Yacht BBQ, will open at the park “as soon as the weather breaks” in the spring, he said.  “We’ve been working on this for several years,” said Haydocy, who is president of Weston Vision, an economic-development organization on the West Side.  He also owns both Haydocy Automotive, a Buick and GMC dealership, and a new Airstream dealership near the casino.

 

MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2014/01/28/casino-area-food-truck-park-planned.html

  • 2 weeks later...
  • Author

Food-truck operators pepper Columbus City Council with questions, but get few answers

By Dan Eaton, Staff reporter

Columbus Business First - Feb. 27, 2014, 2:49pm EST

 

With new regulations on the horizon, food-truck operators still are unsure how the rules will impact the bottom line or if some rules will allow them to operate at all.

 

The city hosted a public meeting Wednesday for feedback on its proposed regulations for mobile food vendors and while broad strokes of the plan met little resistance, including basic licensing, an electronic reservation system and the creation of designated zones on city streets, there was a consensus that more time is needed to spell out several specifics.  This was voiced by nearly all speakers, not just food-truck and cart operators, but also restaurant owners and community representatives.

 

MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2014/02/food-truck-operators-pepper-columbus.html

  • 1 month later...
  • Author

The food truck regulation changes before Columbus City Council - which was previously at an impass - apparently got resolved:

 

Columbus approves food trucks on city streets

City council approves food trucks selling their wares on city streets for the first time

By Will Drabold, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Tuesday, April 8, 2014 - 8:41 AM

 

After years of discussion, Columbus has new regulations that will allow vendors to sell a taco, pita or other food from a truck parked on a city street.  The city council approved the food-truck legislation unanimously last night, allowing food trucks to park and conduct business on city streets for the first time. Previously, trucks could park and sell their food only on private property.

 

About a month ago, food-truck owners were decrying an earlier version of the rules.  Now, they’re commending the city. “They did, for the most part, what we wanted to see, and, overall, they listened to us,” said Brian Reed, president of the Central Ohio Food Truck Association and owner of the Mojo Tago truck.  Reed and the association, whose membership has grown from 11 food trucks in mid-2012 to more than 30 today, worried that the earlier proposal was not specific enough and could be used to harm their businesses.

 

He said that Councilwoman Michelle M. Mills addressed those concerns in recent weeks. “It has been a long journey,” said Mills, who started working on the issue in 2012.  The Central Ohio Restaurant Association, which met with food-truck owners, also supports the legislation.

 

MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/04/08/eats-on-streets-ok.html

  • 3 months later...
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  • Author

Columbus Set to Launch Pilot Program Bringing Food Trucks & Carts to the Hungry Masses

ECDI Spotlight - The Metropreneur

By Kevin Brennan on February 26, 2015 at 8:00 am

 

After almost a year’s worth of intense discussions, meetings and litigation between city officials and the mobile-food community, the City Of Columbus is ready to unveil its pilot program that will finally grant food trucks & carts access to a number of coveted, city-owned spots.  This momentous development signifies that Columbus’ food truck frenzy is not a fad, but rather a growing industry capable of producing big profits.

( . . . )

Once launched, the link to the public website will be posted via Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/colsmfv.  Locations, dates and serving times will be accessible, along with which mobile vendor will be serving. By separating the serving shifts into four groups: breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night, Columbus’ food trucks and carts will be more accessible than ever before.

 

MORE: http://www.themetropreneur.com/columbus/columbus-set-launch-pilot-program-bringing-food-tucks-carts-hungry-masses/

  • 3 weeks later...

thats great or should i say fair that they try to spread the wealth by rotating the food trucks around

  • 1 month later...
  • Author

Hot Chicken Takeover will pop-up its mobile restaurant on Tuesday and Wednesday nights across Central Ohio, starting in June.  The tour is set to begin in Olde Towne East, where HCT first got its start serving at Oak Street’s Near East Co-Op in 2014.  After Olde Towne East, they’ll move around to neighborhoods determined by votes cast on the Hot Chicken Takeover Website.

 

http://www.columbusunderground.com/hot-chicken-takeover-adding-summer-neighborhood-tour-rw1

  • 3 months later...
  • Author

After five rounds of on-line voting at CU, the "Best Food Truck" was announced live on stage at the Columbus Food Truck Festival yesterday afternoon.  The winner:  Hot Chicken Takeover.

 

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Three other top trucks took the stage for runner up trophies:  Hungry Monkey in 2nd place, Taco Sherpa in 3rd place and Buckeye Donuts in 4th place.

 

http://www.columbusunderground.com/hot-chicken-takeover-named-best-food-truck-of-2015

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  • Author

https://www.columbusnavigator.com/wahlburgers-food-truck-columbus/

 

On Tuesday, November 13, Wahlburgers will be making its capital city debut, sort of.  From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., a Wahlburgers food truck will be giving away free food at Mark Wahlberg Chevrolet on the city’s west side located at 3900 W. Broad Street.

  • 1 year later...
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