In the summer of 2011, the Chestertown Spy ran what turned out to be a controversial headline labeled, “Town to Kids: No Ice Cream for You.” A bit tart, but it did point to our rather stunned reaction to the then Chestertown Town Council reaffirming the town’s requirement for a $1,000 a month fee for food trucks for drive-by solicitations, a.k.a. Peddler’s Permit. Given the fact that no small business can operate with that kind of taxation (Middletown up the road charges $125 for a year), this was the kind of “old school” legislative tactic that eliminates a potential problem by creating an absurdly high fee structure, essentially banning ice cream trucks —or any other food truck operations—within town limits.
The losers of this blatantly anti-business statute were more than just a few kids and their parents eager for them to experience the delights of a summer ice cream truck. Chestertown had also eliminated an important entry point for entrepreneurs and prohibited residents having access to greater, perhaps healthier food choices. Not exactly a good example of the free enterprise system.
While it might have been understandable twenty years ago to have doubts about food trucks, and more precisely the sketchy characters that operated them, the reality is that these trucks are turning out to be one of the great success stories of the post-recession economy. From New York City to smaller towns like Durham North Carolina, these diners on wheels have not only been financially viable, but have introduced cuisines that more accurately reflect our own growing ethnic diversity on the Eastern Shore.
Some local nay-sayers to food trucks cite the potential negative impact on local restaurants. But this might be more a case of being unaware of the growing preponderance of data that suggests otherwise. In study after study, food trucks have consistently proven to actually help drive more visitors to commercial centers, positively impacting retail stores nearby, including restaurants offering indoor seating, climate control, and alcoholic beverages. Data also seems to suggest that overall interest in, and appreciation of, food grows as well. And finally, like all forms of good capitalism, food trucks create positive competition. In other words, a successful business, stationary or on wheels, needs to sell a good product. If local restaurants feel threatened, they may need to take a second look at how well their own product fares in comparison.
Given how bully we think food trucks could be for Chestertown, it was heartening to note that the current Chestertown Town Council has just recently revised this draconian surcharge for a peddler’s permit, reducing the cost by almost two thirds in response to a potential food truck vendor making an appeal last week. While this prospective vendor, and hopefully others that follow, still must work with the town’s planning commission on operation guidelines and zones, the positive signal this sends about Chestertown’s food future is an extraordinarily encouraging one.
Fletcher R. Hall says
Editor,
Congratulations to the Chestertown Council for easing up this onerous requirement. Regulations are strangling American business and commerce. And, these regulations are not just emanating from the federal government. This is the case in point with the ice cream caper. How about snow balls as well! Perhaps the town council should review the existing town ordinances and regulations in order to provide relief for other businesses operating in Chestertown,
Ed Plaisance says
Editor,
Food trucks….yeahhh!!!!
I drool every time I see one of those food truck programs on the food channel programs on TV.
The food truck phenomenon has really taken off. I just saw a study/survey (NY Times, I think) that showed the trucks are cleaner than the average restaurant.
I would love to see a line of those trucks in town, flogging everything from Polish kielbasa to Indonesian satay to Persian kubideh to good ol’ North Carolina pulled BBQ pork.
I imagine that they would only find enough business on the Saturday’s during the Farmers’ Market…but that could become symbiotic and increase sales for both groups.
The $1000 per month fee was ridiculous and obviously designed to keep the trucks out of town…whether the new rate is the best balance to encourage enough trucks to come and yet produce some revenue for the town, I don’t know. Hopefully, it is.
Ed
MARY WOOD says
Editor,
Why not trucks to sell fresh vegetables and other foods? With only one supermarket in town, it would be a boon. Parking is almost impossible near the overcrowded Acme, as well as the Sat. Farmer’s Market. In other years you could get vegetables at stands around town.
Paula Ruckelshaus says
Thank you for a good, reasoned article on this issue. The Town Council’s decision to lower the peddler’s permit surcharge is welcome. However, both the Council and town government need to go further to encourage local entrepreneurs, including food truck operators and others , to bring their small business enterprises to Chestertown. The more the merrier and better off both our local dining choices and business economy will be if they take steps to do so.
lynda says
What a great idea! It will be wonderful to have an ice cream truck driving around the town since Chestertown doesn’t have an ice cream parlor. (rita’s doesn’t count as an ice cream parlor).
John East says
Editor,
Technically, the Peddler’s License is still $1,000 a month. The kids can’t have a legal childhood memories (aka an ice cream truck yet). However, there is movement.
One woman who wants to open a taco truck was given permission to do so so long as she went on to certain private property on which she would have to spend, I believe, $300 a months ($150 a month for a conditional license from the town and the rest in rent). For comparison, Centreville is $35 a year. In Denton, there is no charge.
I have submitted legislation to the Mayor and Town Council that would solve the problem for everyone by allowing Food Trucks to park at the foot of High Street (in order to draw people to the waterfront) or at Fountain Park (which has been set aside for food sales since Chestertown was a British Colony). Please let the Mayor and Town Council know of your support.
matthew weir says
Editor,
As someone who owns commercial real estate properties in Chestertown, one of which is rented as a restaurant, I find this article interesting, correct in what it says, but missing an important part of the subject.
I support public policies that encourage entrepreneurs to bring business to Chestertown. I happen to favor food trucks and think their being in Chestertown is fine, we need options and variety. But the article views this issue only from the point of view of a food truck operator and a consumer.
As a landlord, I pay more than $20,000 in real estate tax for the restaurant property. That money, of course, benefits the community. Second, the licenses and permits needed to run a restaurant cost more than $1,000 per year. Further, an established restaurant employs large numbers of people in the community. Thus, the costs of running a land-based restaurant are significantly higher and the benefits to the community far greater. Nonetheless, I agree that every new business deserves an opportunity, even food trucks.
The discussion of food trucks raises questions for me. Are the costs of opening a restaurant (land-based) too high? What does it say about the price of the licenses required? The taxes? From another perspective, is the community prepared to have fewer sit-down restaurants in town? A food truck could, potentially, put one or more of our few permanent restaurants out of business. With another darkened store front, fewer people employed and fewer dining options for tourists and residents alike, what happens to our ability to attract tourists?
I would like to repeat that I am not against food trucks in Chestertown. But I think the subject is worthy broader and deeper discussion. And I thank the Spy for opening the discussion.
Judy O'Dell says
Editor,
As part owner of the Front Room Restaurant at the Imperial Hotel I am not against food trucks per se. However the there should be a different fee structure for peddlers like ice cream trucks vs a food truck parked in a downtown area. Those of us in fixed locations in Chestertown are saddled with extremely high property taxes. When we owned the Imperial Hotel building, annual property taxes were $16,000- you have to sell a lot of hamburgers to cover that fixed cost. So I suggest the town council take that into consideration when setting fees and differentiate between peddlers and fixed location vendors. Roving ice cream trucks bring back fond childhood memories.
John East says
Editor,
I agree that taxes are too high. I also wonder why people talk about Berlin and Easton as great food destinations and not Chestertown. It’s also true that there’s an economic concept called “clustering.” Basically, a number of restaurants together helps the bottom line of all restaurants because people come to know the area as a food destination. Let’s make Chestertown THE food destination in the area! Imagine if money in our community was not going to Delaware and Kent Island when people want things different that we do not offer here. Imagine if Chestertown had a food buzz. Further, if you don’t have 45 minutes to an hour for a sit-down restaurant, you can go to a food truck and spend money in town that otherwise would otherwise NOT have been spent here. Let’s make Chestertown the place to eat.
Ben Ford says
Editor,
I think this is a wonderful idea! While I would be willing to bet that no one thinks running a restaurant is easy, the ability of the 100+ restaurants in Easton to stay open and viable seems to support the idea that clustering is a good thing. Conversely, the 32 restaurants in Chestertown, perhaps don’t offer the variety of type and service that the market could theoretically support. This could perhaps be a function of population, though I think it’s probably more than that.