Thanks Sharon. I used that app on the weekend with a group of friends when we ended up at the Kits Farmers Market. Gorgeous day, and we did not want to have lunch inside, nor play restaurant roulette trying to balance price, food and available patio seating.

So yes, the bricks and mortar outlets lost out, as I suspect they do quite often when the weather is good.

That happened with Primo’s and a Taco Truck.

The regulations on the CoV website clearly state a food cart cannot be within 60 metres of a business that offers a similar menu.

Are you claiming the Taco Food truck opened “right in front” of Primo’s as your example in the preceding paragraph clearly implies?

And good grief if Le Taqueria had opened it’s brick&mortar operation on Granville instead of Cambie (where there are lineups).

Primo’s, being the first Mexican restaurant in this city, deserves a special place in Vancouver’s foodie pantheon. Tastes change, though. People want more authentic Mexican food.

They didn’t up their game. In the words of a Vancouver Sun reviewer, Primo’s had “grew a little too old and weary.”

no point to be made – just interesting info.

Uh huh.

What you are seeing? The market at work. Food cart winners. Food cart losers. And so on. Also, the seasonal nature of the food cart business.

Makes you wonder what all the hubbub was about.

What you are not seeing? Whining from a representative of the food cart community to demand the government to raise taxes, licenses, fees on their brick & mortar competitors to counteract the “unfair” advantages of being able to apply for a liquor license, or offer their customers bathrooms, or shelter from the elements. At least on the Bulablog.

You’re an ambassador for the South Granville business community. You might want to reflect on the image you’re projecting on behalf of your BIA. One would think it would be bad form to dance on the graves of other businesses, even those your Association doesn’t represent.

But, you know what? Have at ‘er. Launch a big public campaign against food carts.

See where it gets you.

@spartikus #103:

I would suggest Sharon Townsend is doing her job by working to protect and voice the concerns of the businesses she is tasked to represent.

FYI – food trucks are parked on Burrard St. in front of Joey’s and across from Cactus Club. On occassion on Hornby in front of the Wedgewood Hotel. On W4th in front of Whole Foods and across the street from other small eateries/coffee shops.

They may not offer the same menu, but they are pulling business from those ‘brick and mortar’ shops that pay huge rentals and tax costs to be where they are at 24/7, 365 days of the year.

The Taco Food truck you are referring to – Off the Wagon Tacos, did great, great food. They originally started off just doing the farmer’s markets and then got a spot at Burrard and Melville by the Skytrain St. But, when the station went under construction – which went on longer than it was supposed to, they were moved from place to place which distabilizes their ‘regular’ crowd. I spoke with them on several ocassions and they were frustrated with the city – they kept losing any gains they made.

My point. Why should food carts be effectively subsidized, just becasewe are led to believe they are run by the ‘little guys’?

Vij?ot so much. I would think that if they were charging what the market could bear, that they could pay a tx—just like the bricks and mortars—many run by ‘the little guys’—based on the size of their truck or the space they occupy.

Anything else is a cheat to those who pay some pretty steep property taxes for charging for the same $6 shwarma.

Unfair. Period.

#88 why do I care? Because I live here and it doesn’t have to be like that. Why have you given up?

teririch @95. I am sure Sharon is defending the people who pay her salary but it is possible to represent your members by extolling their virtues rather than urging a boycott of other businesses and taking glee when they fail. That is what the objection is taken to.

I know this is off topic, but the Feds are looking at giving First Nations the right to purchase land anywhere and apply their reserve status and exemptions to the land.

They can then partner with a developer and build pretty much whatever they want on this land, and it does not have to adhere to local planning policies.

An example of what this looks like is the Tsawwassen Shores First Nations 180 acre residential and retail development. Homes for over 5000, plus a mall the size of Metro Town. All built on prime agricultural land.

If this proposal goes through there is nothing to stop any FN band from purchasing a block of land in any city (they do not even need to have an existing reserve in that city), partnering with a developer (like the Aquilinis who are involved in Tsawwassen) and building a 30 story condo at the corner of say, Main and Broadway.

Up the game? New game.

@waltyss #110

“they are allowing or even enabling it.”

The competition could not occur without direct COV involvement so it is legitimate for those who are affected to challenge that action.

Sorry to hear you have been unsuccessful in obtaining employment in the public sector. Keep trying as you appear to have all the necessary qualifications.

teririch, glad to see you are bzck on this thread. So, please, tell me how Meggs retiring and going to work for a union, any union, “all to the cost of us wee taxpayers”? If you are prepared to put in the energy to type it, then you should be ready to expend the energy to explain your comment.
Bill @116, your last comment is inane nad inaccurate .

Its hard to believe that some people cant see that if the city gives a permit that allows a 24ft. food truck to set up at a meter directly in front of an existing cafe that it will have an unfair effect on the cafe…sheesh!!!
I don’t think anybody is against food trucks,rather this is another example of Vision looking at another city and thinking “Oh,that’s so hip and cool lets do it here” and not considering the unintended consequences.
They even put together their own food tasting panel in order to dictate what the trucks menu should be,talk about interfering with small business,wow!!

Why just food trucks is my question. I can’t afford the rents on Robson, there’s no reason I shouldn’t be able to open up a boutique store out of a truck and park in front of another designer store, I even promise not to sell the same brands.
Same goes with nail salons, and hair dressers, no reason for bricks and mortar, they can be run out of vans as well. I can even offer hair cuts while my driver drives them home, sure the taxi guys won’t mind. 🙂

@122

LOL. Yes, I’m the one exaggerating. Too funny.

Double checked and I’m not seeing it boo.

@Joe Just Joe 121
Careful, mobile massage parlours won’t be far behind. A rolling red light district, if you will.

Waltyss, why are you compelled to resort to hyperbole on EVERY occasion?

Encouraging people “to vote with their feet and their wallets” would not be interpreted as advocating a boycott by any reasonable person.

It really galls me that some commenters characterize you as being on the left – you are a right-wing populist elitist and a pompous ass – and the municipal party you fawn and slobber over is right-of-centre and pro-developer.

Ugh.

Judging from the angry and sometimes dyspeptic comments, Vancouver has done no better than anywhere else to have a balanced food truck policy.

On the one hand, we have the food truck advocates that try to convince us that food trucks are all about social justice, community development and sustainability. On the other hand we have the opponents that have traditional views and are concerned with impact on legitimate businesses.

After a year, I still do not know which side of the fence does the City of Vancouver sit.

But did the city gather the evidence to show which side has the public interest (as distinct from political interest) at heart?
-30-

Bill @ 133. There aren’t enough hours in a day to respond to all the idiotic comments that you and your cohort make. However, even in that collection of awful offal, your’s is remarkable for making no sense logically, gramatically or even in terms of expressing a thought. Good on ya for trying though. E for effort.

Awwww,
Waltyss the only troll on this thread. All by himself. Vision must be losing members in hordes.
Awww…