As the weather warms, it's time to get outside and find your lunch at a food truck. After more than two years, food truck operators and Columbus City Council have reached agreement on how the trucks can park along the busy High Street corridor, and other popular areas of downtown.
In the next few weeks, more trucks will fill the air with intoxicating scents and will fill parking spaces in the coveted areas of Downtown and the Short North.
Those limited spaces have been a sore point among truck operators. Previously, the city set aside spaces, but not which truck would get it. With 50 food trucks, that was a problem.
"It doesn't really work for businesses to pack up, load up their employees, and just drive around in circles looking for an open parking space,” explains Zach James, president of the Central Ohio Food Truck Association.
He says not having a place to sell food already prepared, can cost operators a lot of money. So he's pleased City Council has helped them find a solution. Now truck operators will be able to go online and reserve a spot ahead of time. "The reservation system (and) actually setting aside spaces that we can plan for, staff for, advertise and market for, makes a huge difference."
Owner Chris Hughes loves the idea. "I think there's a nice, a nice space between all of them, and it gives you different pockets of the city where you can find food trucks during the day for lunch."
Councilman Zach Klein says this is a first step. "Other cities have had challenges facing food trucks, and finding spots for them to park, respecting the right-of-way, respecting public safety. I think this is a great start."
For customers, it means a changing landscape of food trucks and their tasty treats.
"You get to try tacos today and tomorrow we could have Greek,” says customer Danny Allred. “It's just a whole bunch of variety.”
Next week, for the first time, you'll be able to download a free app called Street Food Finder to find dates and times where food trucks will park in Columbus. You also can check that information online with the city by clicking this link.