VENICE – Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic the dine-in restaurant industry has taken a major economic blow…but they aren’t the only ones.
It’s a little known fact to those outside the food and restaurant industry that food trucks aren’t allowed to freely park within the City of Venice limits. But as the coronavirus pandemic grows – city officials chose to allow vendors to set up shop and give back to the community they’re from.
“This has been something we’ve been waiting for, for a long time,” Briana Cyr.
Cyr owns the Burgundy Square Cafe in Venice and the Maine Menu mobile food truck. Her father opened the New England inspired restaurant in historic downtown Venice in 2011.
Since purchasing her food truck a year ago, Cyr has not taken her Maine-style cooking to the streets in her hometown. Rules put in place, by City of Venice government, makes it nearly impossible to receive a food truck permit within the city.
Not allowing the Maine Menu and others to establish themselves in the neighborhood. “The remote locations are a little bit more difficult to establish than our Burgundy Square location. But I think it’s just a matter of getting the word out and plenty of people will know where we’ll be,” said Cyr. She isn’t however, the only one who’s faced these obstacles.
Phillip Seider is Manager of the Sausage Express. The full service restaurant travels across the county to their customers but, are not able to bring their services to their friends and family back home.
But on Thursday City Manager of the City of Venice, Edward Lavallee, signed an executive order allowing vendors to receive a temporary food truck permit. However, some restrictions apply.
“I mean it’s great and we’d love to do that and stuff, and I kinda feel bad because going out there, a lot of the restaurants that are still standing open and struggling.” I feel kind of bad going out and trying to pull some of their business away.”
The old rule didn’t allow trucks from setting up within a few hundred feet of brick-and-mortar restaurants and “created burdensome permitting requirements.”
Having received the green light from the city the Maine Menu, the Sausage Express and all other vendors licensed in the state serve the provisions of essential services, and allowed to stay open for business between 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
For questions about a temporary food truck permit, call 941-486-2626 and ask for the City Manager’s Office.
