Night Food Market in Downtown OKC

[Larry OKC]

It has happened here in Austin as the food trailer phenomena exploded into food trailer parks all over. The city since has enacted stricter rules for trailers but for many brick and mortar restaurants it still doesn't go far enough because they have more rules to follow that cost money. Maybe some of the restauranteurs in OKC have seen what has happened in Austin and other places and are trying to stall it before it takes off there. Most business owners do not like competition and many are more than willing to use the government as a means to create an advantage on others. This happens at all levels of business from locals to multi-national corporations.

Kind of weird because you often find competitors setting up shop across the street or right next to each other. Apples to oranges I guess but still fruits.

[bluedogok]

Kind of weird because you often find competitors setting up shop across the street or right next to each other. Apples to oranges I guess but still fruits.

When it came to complaints about food trailers I think what really drove the complaints by the brick-and-mortar businesses was the level of investment they had in their businesses over what a trailer/cart investment would be and the discrepancy in the number of city rules for operating between those type of establishments at the time. In the years since the rules regarding food trailers have been significantly increased and more aligned with the ones regulating permanent food establishments. I think any time a new concept of an existing business type comes into a market there is typically a lack of regulations in place in the eyes of established business owners. Most of them are really only asking for a level playing field while you would have a few looking to create an advantage for themselves in such situations. As typical with the government at any level, they are slow to respond to new concepts so there is usually a lag in the adoption of regulations.

There are always something that would be hard to enforce between the two, namely parking and restroom requirements for fixed location restaurants. Many of our food trailer parks are located in more urban areas with relaxed parking requirements but restrooms have had to be taken care of by the property owner leasing space to the food trailers.

[Larry OKC]

No argument there. Here we are talking about a once a month "event" when it shouldn't have a great impact on others...one would think there would be plenty of business to go around on a Friday night, but looking at the post about Hideaway, there may be something to it. Plus if successful, they might expand to doing it all weekend or weekly or <<gasp>> daily. Cant have that happening, can we? LOL If this is a competitor envy situation, maybe the brick-n-mortar folks need to get their own food trucks? Can't beat them, join them!

[dankrutka]

I would actually think that the food trucks bringing people into the area once a month would benefit local businesses.

[Bigrayok]

I guess they got shut down Friday night by the Health Department and the ABLE Commission because Hugo's Tacos did not have a license and Big Truck Tacos did not have the proper license and had the appearance of electrical problems.

Bigray in Ok

[Rover]

Question: should the health department give food trucks more scrutiny than restaurants?

Or less, either?

Remember, because of their mobility, the situation with the trucks can change quickly and by location.

I am not implying the vendors were at fault, but trucks and restaurants are totally different. Both should be totally safe and serve safely prepared foods.

[Rover]

Did anyone get a photo of the electric cords? I just can't imagine that they would have tried running the entire operation on some scraggly extension cords.

LOL. I was at the Paseo Arts Festival awhile back and you should have seen some of the hook-ups. Saying that, it begs the question of whether that site was inspected with the same ferver?

[MustangGT]

LOL. I was at the Paseo Arts Festival awhile back and you should have seen some of the hook-ups. Saying that, it begs the question of whether that site was inspected with the same ferver?

The same could be said about the Frankenstein hookups at the State Farce er Fair of OK.

[Rover]

Not to minimize the cancellation the other evening, but this tidbit just stood way out for me. When I think about the location, the expected value, the quality of their product, and that they are both a dining location and a bar, it's amazing to me their new location would be basically empty early on a Friday.

Went by the other night (Thursday) at about 8:00. There were only 4 or 5 in the restaurant. Not sure the trucks caused it. I think in the long run Hideaway will be fine with their brand and will be there for the long haul..doubt they are afraid of the trucks.

[foodiefan]

I would actually think that the food trucks bringing people into the area once a month would benefit local businesses.

+1

[kevinpate]

Rover, I dinna mean to, nor realize I had, made a suggestion the trucks were in any way responsible. I was just surprised to hear the place was all but empty on a Friday night. It seems to have so much going for it.

I hope it will be a huge success for many years to come, and I'm not even a particular devotee of their pies. It just seems a good fit for the area.

[Questor]

Especially surprising for a city code enforcement squad that is absolutely too overwhelmed to handle even half of all the structural code violations in this city, let alone all the shoulder-high grass and lawn parking lots in this city. It takes them months to get around to what they do accomplish. This does seem rather targeted, I must admit..

That was sort of my take on it too. I have a friend who used to do inspections like this some time ago and most violations are categorized into ones that are not going to shut your business down on the spot, and a handful that can. Burner size/temp sure doesn't seem like an item worthy of a shutdown, especially when you review online health records and realize the number of places in the metro that have been cited for far more gross things repeatedly and allowed to keep their doors open. The issue of the license sounds pretty serious though, but clearly these businesses had licenses, just perhaps not the exact type that authorities wanted to see from street vendors. I can't imagine the license type is that difficult to receive when you consider having seen god knows what pulled down the streets of Bricktown before. So it amazes me no slack was given here, or at least a simple phone call before hand.

It's pretty clear that authorities just wanted to send a message and were using the event to set an example. Yeah maybe they were technically correct, I don't know, but I do know when people in power take the biggest asshole approach to solving our problems they always end up causing more of them then eliminating them. I'm really tired of certain state level groups always acting so authoritarian. I think it's about time the people of OKC remind those on the hill that we are by far the largest city in this state. Maybe this sort of heavy handed unprofessionalism works in the sticks but it doesn't work here. The quote from the state about how most 'families' appreciate the job ABLE does, and how they tacitly paint all those who oppose them, just underscores that this agency doesn't get it and needs to be shut down. Just fold this job into local police departments and keep the state out of our city's business.

[Bigrayok]

I guess I should have read the first six pages of posts before I broke the news that the party was busted. Oh, there is hurricane on the east coast also.

Bigray in Ok

[Steve]

ATTN OKC TALK: Be assured, this site is being read by some powerful folks.

[Thunder]

ATTN OKC TALK: Be assured, this site is being read by some powerful folks.

That is nice. Good to know that armed ABLE agents are frightening shakey about to lose their jobs. :-D

[BBatesokc]

Hmmmm, should we feel honored, or embarrassed?

[BBatesokc]

That is nice. Good to know that armed ABLE agents are frightening shakey about to lose their jobs. :-D

ATTENTION POWERFUL FOLKS; Thunder is a reflection of our general tolerance, not our general sentiment.

[Thunder]

ATTENTION POWERFUL FOLKS; Thunder is a reflection of our general tolerance, not our general sentiment.

ATTENTION POWERFUL FOLKS: BBatesokc is Brian Bates, our very own Video Vigilance. He's armed with an expensive HD camera!

[MustangGT]

ATTENTION POWERFUL FOLKS; Thunder is a reflection of our general tolerance, not our general sentiment.

HAHAHAHA Tochue' Brian!

[Rover]

I think the state folks are smart enough to figure Thunder out.

[metro]

I think the state folks are smart enough to figure Thunder out.

Unfortunately they probably aren't. LOL

[OKCMallen]

Just got back from Venice Beach a few weeks ago. They must have had 40+ trucks all over the place during their Friday Art Walk. It was an amazing sight with people of all types coming together to celebrate art and food. And believe it or not, no one died.

This is why we don't have nice things, OKC-powers-that-be. The people WANT this.

[Rover]

Yeah...those state and city power brokers kept us from having that great beach and weather. We never get anything nice.

[dankrutka]

Yeah...those state and city power brokers kept us from having that great beach and weather. We never get anything nice.

And a criticism of power means Rover is back to discount your opinion b/c, according to Rover, people in power are infallible.

[Rover]

And a criticism of power means Rover is back to discount your opinion b/c, according to Rover, people in power are infallible.

Certainly not, but I choose to value facts over paranoid reaction. This thread turned into a lynch mob way before FACTS are discovered. I have been adamant that when people in power abuse it they should swiftly and firmly be dealt with. However, I do not subscribe to the notion that all authority is evil just because it is authority. And all powerful people are selfish and corrupt. I choose to consider reality instead of suspicions. I know it is much more fun and dramatic to start calling for firings, riots, etc. when some of the fun is taken away, but I choose to wait for a trial instead of mob justice.

My sarcasm was directed at the fact the post couldn't just end with talking about what a fantastic and fun experience of the beach was, but had to include a line about the "power brokers". It gets almost comical. Thank goodness Steve takes an adult, professional and even handed approach to finding out what happens in this city. He and several others bring sanity to this board when it gets kind of silly.