Twitter has truly changed the way we live. We jot our thoughts–boom, we are writers!
With Twitter, the budding entrepreneur can open up a food stand and roam the city and inform his loyal follows (via twitter) where he’ll set up shop today. Two great vehicles combined@! No high rents; no big set-up costs, except of course, the outfitted vehicle, but that’s far less costly than doing a restaurant!
We are so beyond hot dogs. We’ve come a long way from the simple Vienna hot dog stand. We want more. we want variety; we may even opt for healthy. So many choices. So many locations available.
Adding to the movable cart mystique, the potential excitement, is the uncertainty factor. If you crave a schnitzel, but the truck is in the wrong Borough, you are New York out of luck. In DC the green On the Fly trucks roam and hang out in the Mall area, by day, and hit the hot action spots at night. The Fly trucks are like an opening act for the whacky world of The fojol bros of Merlindia. They have a menu that begs translation: All part of the fun gimmick. Ask the crowds.
They do the cooking act and have a give-back philosophy, a percentage of sales goes to support city youth programs. Another easy-to-like aspect of their circus mentality is their eco-philosophy (compostable trays, napkins,etc) which they share with many other truck/cart vendors: Being Green is an important calling card for this new restaurant cart/truck enterprise.
LA’s popular Green Truck has spawned a sister operation in New York City; both promoting the organic lifestyle and vegan-filled options.
There are even food contests (The 5th annual Vendy Awards took place in New York this weekend) pitting the trucks and carts against each other. The husband and wife operators of the winning taco truck were humble in accepting the honor. That’s a lesson a number of restaurants could learn: Price and humility can draw the crowds!
You name it, we can get it from a vendor, mobile or otherwise. Retail rents have put numerous restaurants out of business. The food truck may be the answer. Can you see it now: Tavern on the Green on the move. OK, maybe not everyone can reinvent himself into a roving business, but the popularity and explosion of food trucks and food enterprises gives us hope.
Whether we’re talking a Kabob war or a Falafel standoff, the options continue to expand.
The price is right.
