It’s spring in Rochester, which means it’s officially festival season. And with festivals come food trucks. On Wednesday, April 27, the City of Rochester Public Market kicked off the 2016 Food Truck Rodeo, and dozens of other food trucks have been roaming around Rochester since spring sprung.
And according to the Democrat and Chronicle, at least nine new food trucks will be on the road this year. In addition to five new trucks going into operation this year, a number of popular food trucks have added a second vehicle to their operations. In total, there are 22 (licensed) food trucks serving the Flower City, and the Rochester Food Truck Alliance says several more trucks are trying to get up and running this spring.
So far this year, Le Petite Poutine, The Meatball Truck, Wraps on Wheels, and Tuscan Wood-Fired Pizza have all added a second truck, while The Bento Box added a second truck in September, The Bento Box Thai Fried Ice Cream. Meanwhile, the food truck craze is spreading to the Finger Lakes region, which is in the process of organizing a food truck park.
Unlike in many other cities across the country, Rochester’s food truck operators and city officials have worked well together, with few complaints on either side. Ronnie McClive, co-owner of Le Petit Poutine and a leader with the Rochester Food Truck Alliance says that the trucks “are a part of Rochester now.”
In 2015 the city of Rochester eased regulations for the trucks, giving them more places to park in the center city area. Even so, competition is heating up for the best spots.
Most food trucks rely on a combination of word of mouth and social media marketing. It’s an effective tactic in an era when 70% of Americans never use a phone book — a mobile business for a mobile generation.
For Rochester residents who don’t want to go looking for food trucks, they can be found on the last Wednesday of the month from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Public Market, as well as two special events on July 13 and August 31.
Live music is also scheduled for the Public Market’s increasingly popular Food Truck Rodeos.
Image Source: Le Petit Poutine
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