Food trucks to serve a larger portion of community following Downers Grove Council’s decision

Food trucks will serve a larger portion of Downers Grove now that the Village Council has eased restrictions on where they can set up shop.

The council on Dec. 15 approved an amendment to the village’s mobile food vendor regulations that eases restrictions on food trucks.

The council’s decision allows food trucks to do business on public and private property at the property owner’s discretion within an area bound by Rogers Street on the north, the west lot of the property at 703 Rogers Street on the west, the railroad tracks on the south and Douglas Street on the east.

Previously, food trucks were only allowed in the Ellsworth Business Park and the Esplanade, Opus Place and Corridors office parks.

Eric Davies, owner of Puff Truck Pizza, said he appreciates the council’s decision.

“Having a policy that opens up more locations for food trucks is good to make,” Davies said. “It’s going to help because a majority of food trucks are small businesses and they’re family-run businesses. Any opportunity like that opens up for small businesses or even minority-owned businesses.”

Davies said the pandemic has been trying for businesses. He said the amendment to the village’s food truck regulations provides a source of relief.

“(Business) has been down, especially for food trucks,” Davies said. “Mass gatherings were canceled starting in March. That’s a lot of where food trucks make their revenue.”

Village staff initiated the change with help from Commissioner Rich Kulovany.

Kulovany has said the amendment to the village’s regulations levels the playing field between Goldfinger Brewing Company and area restaurants.

Village staff was in contact with the local brewery numerous times communicating that food trucks are not allowed in the area surrounding the establishment, located at 513 Rogers St.

Under the amended regulations, Goldfinger Brewing Company is allowed to partner with food trucks to help generate business.

“I think this is us moving forward,” Kulovany said. “I think it will add value.”

Goldfinger Brewing Company wanted to partner with food trucks because the brewery doesn’t serve food and has been in communication with village staff numerous times about allowing food trucks near the establishment.

The village council was receptive to the change because the amendment doesn’t allow food trucks to do business in the downtown area.

Mayor Bob Barnett has said he supports the change to the village’s regulations for many reasons.

“One of the things that I think is sometimes forgotten is that food trucks can be frankly a lower point of entry, a lower barrier for people to get started,” Barnett said. “It’s very common for people to have food trucks and then suddenly end up with a brick and mortar or a fleet of food trucks.”

Erin Venezia, executive director of the Downers Grove Downtown Management Corp, said her organization was opposed to food trucks locating so close to the downtown area.

“Our board still feels strongly that food trucks should not be permitted any closer than this proposed map amendment or within the downtown Downers Grove area,” Venezia said in a letter. “The closer their proximity the more direct competition they are in with the brick-and-mortar restaurants that support our community in many ways, including the recently increased food and beverage tax.”

Commissioner Nicole Walus said that voting on the amendment to the village’s regulations weighed heavily on her.

“I’m sure for a lot of people this seems like a really easy call,” Walus said.

Ultimately, Walus supported the change to the village’s mobile food vendor regulations.

She said her frustration lies not in the amendment that was presented to the council but how the situation played out between Goldfinger Brewing Company, area restaurants and the village.

Downers Grove originally adopted regulations on mobile food vendors in 2016, officials said.

Walus, noting that careful thought and discussion went into rolling out the rules, said she backs the council’s decision knowing the amendment doesn’t prevent her from continuing to be a strong supporter of local businesses.