Food trucks establish a presence in Gaylord as downtown may beckon

GAYLORD — Food trucks are now part of the restaurant scene in Gaylord as two trucks are operating on the fringe of the downtown district.

The Dig's, which offers an Asian inspired menu, and Bangarang Tacos are serving diners on a privately-owned lot on South Otsego Avenue. The trucks operate from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and on some Saturdays from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.

"We have had a great response from the community," said John Richardson, who operates the taco truck. He used to own The Bearded Dogg, located just behind where the food trucks are now. Richardson had to close the Bearded Dogg because of a family medical issue.

Richardson said about half of his customers eat the food at the site and the other half take it somewhere else to consume.

More: Food fight: Brick-and-mortar restaurant objects to food truck's close proximity

"We have picnic tables set up for those who want to stay and eat," said Richardson. "Some like to play cornhole and other games we have set up."

Richardson said his clientele includes families and those visiting the area from out of town.

Trevor O'Connor manages the Dig's, which offers dishes from China, Japan and other Asian nations. He said Devin Schaedig, who owns the food truck, developed the menu based on his traveling experiences while serving in the Marines.

"He retired and opened this business," O'Connor said. "So far this has been our busiest year to date. We plan to have another truck soon and we are looking to expand across Northern Michigan."

Both food trucks are prevented by ordinance from operating in the city's central business district or the downtown.

"What we have in place was done prior to food trucks becoming as popular as they are now," noted city manager Kim Awrey.

Richardson and O'Connor would like to change the ordinance so they can operate in downtown at least on a limited basis.

"If I am going to pay for a permit to operate in the city I should be able to do that on any private land," Richardson said of his transient trader license, which he said costs $200 a month.

"Compare that to some of the other cities in Northern Michigan where it costs $100 for the whole season," he added.

O'Connor pointed to Petoskey, which allows food trucks to operate in several parts of the city, as an example for Gaylord.

"Petoskey allows the trucks in certain locations. I think (not having trucks in the downtown) is a missed opportunity when there is a farmer's market or Alpenfest that attracts people," said O'Connor.

He believes that the trucks would encourage more people to come downtown for the special events.

"Competition is good for business and it allows everyone to sell to each other's customers," he added, noting the existence of the social district in the downtown which allows the consumption of alcoholic beverages in the area.

Richardson said he is talking with the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and the city "to work something out. Gaylord probably wasn't ready for all of this to happen. We just want to make the city more vibrant and a fun place to be."

Subscribe: Check out our offers and read the local news that matters to you

Cole Muzyl is a resident of the downtown and a property owner. He too wants to add food trucks to the dining scene.

Muzyl said the food trucks are catching on in the city.

"I think we have some great restaurants but that is not enough. I think we need more options," he said.

Muzyl intends to go before the DDA and the council to explain why he believes food trucks would add another dimension to the downtown's food and entertainment offerings.

Not allowing the trucks in the downtown just "keeps the foot traffic they generate from walking past all the shops and other businesses along Main Street," Muzyl said.

"It seems foolish to me who sits on the planning commission and also someone who invests in the downtown, to restrict an industry from participating," he added.

Muzyl said the city should update its ordinances pertaining to food trucks and transient or temporary merchandise sellers to reflect the unique requirements of each business.

That may be about to happen. Last week, the city's future planning commission discussed the topic with city attorney Paul Slough.

Right now, food trucks in Gaylord are regulated under the city's solicitation ordinance, which also includes provisions for temporary merchandise sales.

"Downstate some communities have passed a special food truck ordinance while others rely on the general solicitation ordinance," Slough said. "We have relied on our solicitation ordinance but with food trucks becoming more popular, we may have to take another look at it."

Food trucks can be a touchy issue, said Slough.

"I think the two concerns are that brick-and-mortar restaurants are paying taxes, some are struggling to keep patrons and parking concerns," he said. "Food trucks have to be somewhere and they bring in more people and cars."

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Food trucks establish a presence in Gaylord as downtown may beckon