Food Truck Vendors Could Soon Set Up Shop in Peoria
By: Eugene Daniel
Updated: March 29, 2012
PEORIA- A new city ordinance could soon bring a new style of food vendor to the streets of Peoria.
Next month, the Peoria city council will vote on a new city ordinance that would allow food truck vendors to sell on city streets with a permit.
Wendy Hauk-Glissan is a food cart vendor in downtown Peoria. Now that the weather is nice, she's excited to start serving customers.
"Weather has just been so nice, you know for March weather. You know, so we're able to be out a little earlier than normal," said Hauk-Glissan, who works with Haddad's Restaurant.
But she isn't excited about the city's proposal to bring new competition -- food truck vendors---to the area.
"I'd start looking at safety of traffic, safety of pedestrians. You know we've got a big sidewalk and what now. And if they're parked on the side of the road, selling, then I'd be concerned with that also," she said.
Chris Setti, the city's special project manager, says it's a trend that's sweeping across the nation, and at least one vendor has approached the city about starting a food truck operation.
"I think it helps with the vibrancy of Peoria. And this particular vendor or any of these vendors wouldn't be limited to downtown. So it gives people another option," Setti said.
The food truck vendors would not be allowed to park within 100 feet of already established food businesses and will have to register with the health department.
Cart vendor Willie Smith isn't worried at all. Smith, owner of Willie's Homemade Tamales, has worked in downtown Peoria for 12 years. He says he's business is booming and he's had trouble meeting demand. Though a food truck driver would be able to relocate, Smith says he still believes his established cart vendors will have an advantage. He says the smell and taste of the food should outweigh how it's sold.
"I don't know if it will affect me or not. But my belief is all in my product and my service to my customers," Smith.
Hauk-Glissan says she doesn't know how the health department will inspect the truck vendors.
"You know we have regulation continuously. And I think being able to do that out of a truck would be a little bit harder," she said.
The city says the ordinance would simply bring more business to the area.
"I think its competition. And I think all competition is good. So I don't think it'll be a threat. It'll just give people another option," said Setti.
Setti says he believes the ordinance will pass next month.
