Roach Coach Invasion

The Orange County Register is reporting that the Food Truck Jamboree is coming to the Hyatt Regency Irvine January 27th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Imagine if Downtown Fullerton had something like this but on a weekend.  Maybe add some music and activities for the kids.


Unfortunately, many communities do not support food trucks because they compete against brick and mortar restaurants and generally have lower operating overhead.  Local government doesn’t like food trucks for a few reasons.  Their tax structure is such that they pay their sales tax within the city/county which they’re based and not where the tax was collected.  Some cities have began regulating food trucks in an effort to capture tax revenue and level the playing field for local businesses.  The fact that the trucks can drive into a city, sell food for an hour or two, then drive out of the city has caused code enforcement officers to take notice and issue citations for not having a city business permit.

Sadly, redevelopment agencies give cheap taxpayer funded loans to new businesses to come into town and compete against long existing and well established businesses, many of which are already struggling under the weight of employee benefits, higher taxes, and a depressed economy.

So, as one arm of a community attempts to level the field, another arm, the redevelopment agencies, cuts deep ruts and pits for the losers while building up a taxpayer funded framework for their chosen winners.

I support food truck operators in their endeavor of the American Dream and prosperity.  I don’t see the trucks as a threat to local business so long as everyone adheres to the often cumbersome regulations governing businesses and food safety.

Food trucks may not always be the healthy choice when it comes to food consumption but they will certainly help to spur some healthy competition.

10 Replies to “Roach Coach Invasion”

  1. When I saw this, I thought that Tropical Shave Ice truck would be doomed. =P (I found out it’s based in Fullerton though! phew…? XD)

    Oh, they’re coming on Tuesday to Downtown Fullerton btw.

  2. “many communities do not support food trucks”

    Actually, “communities” are probably split on the issue. Customers appreciate the variety and value, but nearby eateries might not.

    Of course, asking your government to kick the trucks out is always easier than competing. But when your competition is sporadically serving food on the curb, it can’t be that difficult to beat ’em, can it?

    Any city that boots food trucks is doing a disservice to those who enjoy good, cheap food.

  3. A handful of trucks try to come to downtown as a group Tuesday nights and another group meets at AMF Carter Lanes on Thursday nights, weekly in a food truck fest atmosphere. You can catch other trucks in town randomly also.

  4. oh man this would be a terrible idea, cant you just imagine shawn nelson pushing little kids over, just so he could be first in line to get a burrito.

    1. Mention of invasive insects like roaches makes me think of Hairbag Sidhu and his fellow carpetbagggers. Oh, yeah, and Roland Chi, too.

  5. The trucks pay the city by way of the operating permit they must have for a mobile food vending permit.
    Also, they’re legally allowed to operate on the city streets until 9pm so local businesses that want to complain need to recognize that food trucks are within their right.
    Food truck gatherings bring people from their homes to downtown and people from surrounding cities to Fullerton. This is good for all business since it makes it more of a destination and event for going out that evening.
    The trucks that try to be in town late night aren’t hurting either since most kitchens close by 10pm and leave the drunks nowhere to eat before getting in their cars and driving away to the risk of all of us.
    And the few kitchens that are open- the people who will order from a truck versus your establishment weren’t looking for your type of menu in the first place. Or they just couldn’t tell you were open since you close early often, or you dont advertise your late-night menu or you just aren’t popular.
    Small business should support small business. Our economy could use the help.

  6. I have selflessly sampled many of the food trucks that come through this town in order to bring you this list of my favs:

    Dos Chinos – Mexican/Asian fusion. Mmmmm. Pork belly tacos
    Louks – Awesome gyros.
    Seabirds – Vegetarian, but still tasty.
    Kogi – The original gourmet taco truck that started it all.

    Certain trucks have a strong following and the ability to draw quite a crowd to downtown.

  7. Karl Karcher’s Karl’s junior fast food restaurants started out as a hot dog cart. this trend may be reversed by fast food restaurants traveling to its customers instead of customers traveling to them. free enterprise always benefits the public more than government sponsored enterprises because its success is driven by competition. the only fees to the government mobile fast food should have to pay is registration on the truck, license to vendor food and taxes on its income, not operating permits to every city

  8. I never got sick eating food from a food truck. We need more of them instead of strip malls in Boss Agran’s Master Planistan.

  9. Check out Bootleggers Brewery they have a different roach coach there everynight! Plus really great beer! Walnut and Richman right by the tracks!

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