FOOD TRUCK! Knoxville needs several
I'm not 100% on this, but maybe there needs to be a code update passed but several people I know have expressed dismay that Knoxville does not have a "food truck." And by that I mean, a "truck which serves food as a counter-style restaurant" -- basically the kind of thing you see a lot of in larger cities, but something I've come to know and love a lot from my visits to SXSW in Austin, TX.
Here's a tweet from Enjoy Knoxville seconding the idea.
I think a food truck would be great, although the million dollar questions are:
1. What KIND of food? Knoxville tastes are insanely pedestrian. Korean/Mexican fusion does great in a hip town like Austin, but in a town where oil paintings of dogwoods are considered "fine art" I don't know if anything exotic would get more traffic than the usual downtown hipster elders could provide.
2. What investor has the balls to make this happen? Again, I'm saddened by the lack of risk-taking seen in Knoxville. There's a sort of cabal of developers downtown who haven't been incredibly visionary or experimental or even bold... That conservative investing has gone a long way to pad their wallets, but has left us (yet again) far behind in the race for a vibrant downtown compared to Chattanooga.
Let me digress for a moment and qualify that last sentence. Downtown Knoxville closes too early, has too few stages, too few risks and plenty of housing. Compared to Chattanooga we're rather bland, and that makes me sad.
Anyway, I would love to get involved in a food truck business. I've had crazy ideas on this for years! But we'll see if anyone with money or influence can step up to the plate and make it happen.
Here's a tweet from Enjoy Knoxville seconding the idea.
I think a food truck would be great, although the million dollar questions are:
1. What KIND of food? Knoxville tastes are insanely pedestrian. Korean/Mexican fusion does great in a hip town like Austin, but in a town where oil paintings of dogwoods are considered "fine art" I don't know if anything exotic would get more traffic than the usual downtown hipster elders could provide.
2. What investor has the balls to make this happen? Again, I'm saddened by the lack of risk-taking seen in Knoxville. There's a sort of cabal of developers downtown who haven't been incredibly visionary or experimental or even bold... That conservative investing has gone a long way to pad their wallets, but has left us (yet again) far behind in the race for a vibrant downtown compared to Chattanooga.
Let me digress for a moment and qualify that last sentence. Downtown Knoxville closes too early, has too few stages, too few risks and plenty of housing. Compared to Chattanooga we're rather bland, and that makes me sad.
Anyway, I would love to get involved in a food truck business. I've had crazy ideas on this for years! But we'll see if anyone with money or influence can step up to the plate and make it happen.
posted by Victor Agreda, Jr. at
11:37 AM
16 Comments:
There's a few taco trucks that hide behind gas stations. Alot of the working class or locals know where they hide. Ask around.
You are on the money!!! Funny thing, I'm surfing the web researching food trucks, pricing, and when I googled "food trucks + knoxville laws" I came across your blog post. Serendipity? Who knows? I'd really be interested in what the codes are here. A hip, fusion style truck would work if it were allowed on campus, but something tells me you would have too many fingers in your kool aid! As for Austin, one of my favorite towns because of the food trucks. Next time you are there, go downtown and hit up a lil place called Peche. It's awesome! The mammoth absinthe fountain will blow you away when first entering, followed by their unique, old world cocktails and homemade charcuterie.
Geno, funny you mention Peche, I went there in March! It was indeed awesome, although I discovered I don't really care for absinthe :)
If you could get on campus, I agree -- fraternity row would be a great place to park!
I don't live in Knoxville, but I visit there often and love this idea. Food trucks are great just because they create a nice pedestrian environment. Where would they work well in Knoxville? Market square would be nice, but would it take away from the restaurants that are already there? Quick question, why are Knoxville people so self conscious about their city? To me, the greatest thing about Knoxville is the simple lifestyle, which is rare and tough to maintain when you get the food snob types moving in. Austin is great, but its also super pretentious (in a hipster sort of way). As a visitor to both cities, I also find Knoxville's downtown to be much more fun for a late 20's male than Chattanooga. I like the emphasis chattanooga has put on their outdoors (like utilizing the river, which Knoxville badly needs to take advantage of), but Chattanooga is boring. There is nothing to do there at night. Ill take Knoxville's live music any day over the aquarium. Knoxville is a great town (and improving all the time), don't be so hard on your city.
I"m so glad I discovered your blog! I wrote a blog entry back in June (http://spiniffy.com/comic/?p=1344) on my desire for food trucks in Knoxville. Can't you just see the 100 Block lined with different types of food trucks on First Friday evenings? I would adore that!
I know this post is several months old, but I just stumbled across it while searching to see if there were any established K'ville food trucks already. I'm relatively new to the area, moved over from Nashville a year or so ago and I 100% agree that this town needs a food truck scene. I've been dreaming about starting one for a few years now, ever since I went to SXSW down in Austin a few years back. I have soooo many ideas but just lack the capital to get it off the ground. Assuming local laws aren't prohibitive, the college and sports scenes here seem primed for some mobile food options. Would LOVE to be among the pioneers for the city. No real point for my posting, just wanted to share in the dreaming with you guys :)
There is a Barbecue food truck that comes to the Market Square Farmer's Market. I have heard people say they really like their sandwiches.
They usually park near the Cruze Dairy booth.
Anon, I've eaten their BBQ and it is great! Unfortunately that's a catering truck, not really a proper food truck. Cruze also cooks food in their truck at Market Sq, not sure how they are getting around the ordinance... The thing about a food truck is: you should be seeing more of them in industrial parks, colleges, outdoor events, etc. Not just the Farmer's Mkt. We gotta change the law to make that happen.
I too have thrown around the idea of a lunch truck in Knoxville. I grew up in New Jersey and lived 12 years in Baton Rouge. These two places offer many food ideas. I just don't have any idea how to get started and what parking restrictions and health department rules may be involved. I would like to try this when I retire.
First Food Truck In Knoxville!
Finally, we're making some progress and I hear rumors there is at least one more in the planning stages. First truck is Petro's Food Truck. Pretty fitting since Petro's was introduced here at the World's Fair.
You can get their schedule on their website. http://knoxvillefoodtrucks.com/petros
Petro's Food Truck
I put this link in as my name so you can find them easily.
If I find out about the other truck I will let you know.
Robert
I am actually in the process of getting a food truck on the road for Knoxville. I'm renovating a 31' Airstream Excella 500. We should be on the road as of April 2013. Check out our progress at: facebook.com/guerillagrill1, or feel free to email us @ guerillagrill1@gmail.com.
That's amazing post done by you. thanks for share..
Guerilla Grill will be up and running around mid-April 2013. Check us out at facebook.com/guerillagrill1
I am actually in the process of setting up a food truck. I owned a Texmex style brick and mortar for 3 years and love everything about it but the rent! The foodtruck I am looking at is set up as a BBQ joint with smoker and all but I was thinking of Fresh ground burgers cooked to order and fries....would like to hear some suggestions on what people in Knox, Sevier, Blount and surrounding counties think! Let me know people! UR input would be highly considered. U can reach me @ petesownsauces@yahoo.com. Just drop me a line with ur suggestions and comments.Thanks! M Collins
I work in Oak Ridge at the East Tennessee Technology Park and we are pretty isolated from any restaurants. I think a food truck would do very well coming here for lunch!! There is a small cafeteria on site but a fresh and healthy food truck would be a welcome change!! A great niche for anyone willing to come 5 miles off of Exit 356. Site contact info: www.ettpreuse.com
We have been to this truck twice and it is amazing - highly recommended, as all the food is locally-sourced. Plus, the chef behind it is coming from Fat Duck, Bouchon, and Blackberry Farm. Not only are their ingredients quality, but the people behind it, too!
www.hoofknoxville.com - they are just getting started.
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