How to Decide Where to Park Your Food Truck
When it comes to matters of importance, where you park your food truck is as high up on the list as the quality of your food. If you don’t choose the right place to park, your food could be the best of the best, but you won’t get the foot traffic that you need in order to be successful.
In order to get the foot traffic that you need, you need to go where the people are, when they are there. Unless they are very dedicated, most people won’t seek you out or travel far when there are other options nearby. People often visit food trucks for convenience; this is important to remember about your potential customers.
When scouting locations, make sure you keep a few things in mind for requirements. First, there needs to be available, legal parking for your food truck. You don’t want to block part of the road or overwhelm the sidewalk, so make sure that you choose an area with a large amount of space. You also need to make sure you have a permit to sell food in that city. Some cities require separate licensing, so look into that before you set up shop for the first time.
If you’re trying to find a good spot, check out these suggestions:
Office Buildings:
If you can find a parking spot near an office park or several office buildings, this is prime real estate on workdays, especially at lunch time or when people are getting off work. Easy, convenient lunch that is tastier than the leftovers from home will tempt people to come visit. If you can get permission from the property manager to park on-site, this is even better than ‘nearby’.
Popular Parks:
On weekends and holidays when there is good weather, you will often find families at popular parks. This is a great time to pull up your truck. There will be a constant stream of foot traffic during the day, so you will probably have several rushes to handle. *Public recreation areas might have vending restrictions. Be sure to check your local laws.
Food Truck Round-Ups:
This one may be a little obvious, but if you aren’t attending local food truck round-ups, you’re letting a prime opportunity go by. People come to these specifically for your food. Make sure you have a presence!
Farmer’s Markets:
If your local farmer’s markets allow food trucks to set up a booth or park your truck, you need to be there. These are usually held on Saturdays and Sundays, and people are hungry and looking to buy. Because farmer’s markets have a regular schedule, this is a great way to build a loyal following.
College Campuses:
College students are always hungry, always busy, and always looking for a deal. If you can swing a spot close to or even on campus to park your truck, you are sure to get quite a bit of business. If you swing it right, you may even get the opportunity to work the sporting events, which will bring in the big bucks.
Wherever you end up parking, if you’re selling to the public, make sure to mark your location and hours on the Where’s The Foodtruck app to actively alert nearby foodies that you’re open and ready for business. And make sure that you’re accepting mobile orders through the app!
Are you new to the catering scene? Click here for our tips on making your catering bookings a success!
