Food trucks at bayfront

For the first time, food truck vendors will be setting up shop at public parks in Hamilton. And while the operators are happy with the move, it’s having a negative impact on some permanent businesses nearby.

Meatball poutine is just one of the menu options available at Bayfront park today. 18 food truck operators were lined up to feed hungry park patrons as part of the new pilot project, possibly the first of it’s kind in Canada.

Kathryn Holloway is with the city of Hamilton: “We are trying to cater to how the food trucks operate, how they go from place to place and have a rotating schedule”

Operators pay $50 dollars a day to sell their wares, permits are doled out on a first come first serve basis. Three per park per day. It’s something owners have been waiting for.

Peter DeJong is with The Meatball Shoppe: “We’ve been trying to get into city parks for two years, we just think it’s a great spot for the food truck program.”

Patrick Wiese is with Twisted Chicken: “It’s been amaxing, the crowd has been amazing, the feedback has been amazing, this is our second one and we are really happy.”

It’s good for the trucks but it’s taken a bite out of the business for permanent restuarants like Hutches. Hutches is at the entrance to Bayfront park. They were dead on a normally bustling Friday before the long weekend. And construction out front isn’t helping. But foodies at Bayfront park are loving the fact they can buy food at the park.

Paul: “I love it, I know they’ve had troubles in the past getting into places and what not so this really helps them out.”

This project is in stark contrast to one launched by the city of Toronto yesterday. They offerd 125 licences to vendors for $5,000 a year.

Only 6 of them were sold. And at $50 a day, it could soon add up to thousands of dollars for vendors in in Hamilton too. Other parks included in the pilot project are Pier Four park, Heritage Green Community Sports park, Turner park, Sam Lawrence, Confederation and Gage park. It runs until October.

And to find out where your favorite truck will be set up there’s an app for that. Go to streetfood app.com /toronto. There you will find a schedule of trucks, location and hours. Happy food trucking and have a great long weekend.