Here Come The Trucks

It's been just one year since TC commissioners passed an ordinance easing regulations on food trucks in the city, but one thing is already clear: mobile vendors are here to stay and are multiplying quickly.

What started with a single truck – Roaming Harvest, owned and operated by Simon Joseph – has grown into a full-fledged industry that will see at least 15 vendors operating on local streets this season, with several more rumored to be on the way. The Little Fleet owner Gary Jonas, who hosted a handful of vendors at his East Front Street bar last summer, has expanded the lot to accommodate eight full-time trucks this year.

“There's an overwhelming demand to be in the lot, because we provide infrastructure for the trucks and customers know they'll be here,” says Jonas. “We have a waiting list now...we hope to change it up from season to season, keep things fresh.”

Along with returning vendors Anchor Station, EZ Cheesy, Friends With Food, Pigs Eatin' Ribs and Roaming Harvest, new trucks will include Antonio Simão's Portuguese-influenced A's, Porterhouse Production's family-friendly truck Curbie and “brunch anytime” eatery Toasted, from the owners of Harbor 22. The Little Fleet will host an official grand opening party on May 15.

Several other new mobile vendors are opening elsewhere in the city. Local chef Spencer Boyles – who's worked in kitchens ranging from Alaska to Pangea's Pizza here in TC – will launch his Latin-focused Sombrero Verde truck in mid-May. He's eyeing spaces on Eighth Street and near the Open Space. Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan, which received a state grant to launch its Mi Fresh Start food truck, will also call Eighth Street home, operating three days a week from Addiction Treatment Services while roaming other days.

Meanwhile, Desmond Berry – an environmental director with the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and an experienced commercial fishermen – will launch the Berry Family Enterprises food truck with his family mid-May at Barrels & Barrels Party Store near Suttons Bay. The truck will run seven days a week from 11am-7pm and feature fresh, locally sourced whitefish, along with unique items like deep-fried pickles.

“Suttons Bay doesn't have any food trucks, and we're limited in terms of the number of restaurants here,” says Berry. “So we thought this would be perfect. We're already looking now for a second truck we can use for festivals and events.”

Lest customers think mobile vending is solely focused on food, at least one entrepreneur has come up with an entirely unique idea for his truck. Beau Warren, owner of Michigan apparel business Tee See Tee, is preparing a new venture called the TNT Truck in June. Standing for “toys and t-shirts,” the business will sell custom t-shirts – not available at any of Warren's partnering retail outlets, and designed in special limited-edition runs around events like the National Cherry Festival and Buckley Old Engine Show – as well as a line of urban vinyl toys.

“A truck is a hip, modern approach to a brick-and-mortar store,” says Warren, who originally considered opening a retail storefront. “I'm going to play off the food truck motif. We'll have daily specials, a chalkboard, a display window with our designs, music, LED lights...it's going to be fun. It's eye-catching and seems like a perfect fit with what we do.”

Warren plans to open on June 20 and operate in various locations in downtown TC. Like many other mobile vendors in the city, he's now in the busy final stages of finalizing permits and licenses, scheduling inspections, tinkering with his product list – all the while nervously eyeing the calendar.

“There so many crazy things involved in this process I never thought I'd be doing,” says Warren, chuckling. “It's a lot of work. But when we finally open the truck, it will be worth it.”

Food Trucks at The Little Fleet
A's – “Serving up food with an accent!” Portuguese-influenced dishes from Antonio Simão.
Anchor Station – “Comfort food done right” from Siren Hall and Lulu's Bistro owner Michael Peterson.
Curbie – Porterhouse Productions' custom 1946 Ford truck serving paella, ice cream & other treats.
EZ Cheesy – Playfully gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches.
Friends With Food – A “local spin on the classics” from Becky Tranchell and David Silver.
Pigs Eatin' Ribs – Adam Kline serves smokehouse-style BBQ from his custom-built mobile cooker.
Roaming Harvest – Locally focused street food from food truck pioneer Simon Joseph.
Toasted – Harbor 22's Ian Simpson serves “brunch anytime from locally sourced ingredients.”

Elsewhere on the Road
Berry Family Enterprises – Fresh, local whitefish dishes from Desmond Berry & his family at Barrels & Barrels Party store near Suttons Bay
Dragon Wagon – Asian-influenced dishes from Red Ginger owner Dan Marsh in downtown TC and at special events
Harbor on the Side – Harbor 22's original food truck scheduled for special events and catering gigs throughout the area
King Wubbz Pita Dubz – “Pita for the people” by owner Brian Welburn behind Cousin Jenny's and elsewhere in downtown TC
Mi Fresh Start – A Goodwill Industries food-service training truck offering locally sourced tacos and sandwiches three days a week at Addiction Treatment Services on Eighth Street; also roaming in town
Sombrero Verde – Authentic burritos and other Latin cuisine from chef Spencer Boyles at The Little Fleet in spring, downtown TC TBD this summer
TNT Truck – Custom and specially sourced “toys and t-shirts” from Tee See Tee owner Beau Warren, downtown TC TBD