Food trucks struggle with virus, regulations
Some owners say they have been ignored by local governments
The food truck business in the greater Williamsburg area is suffering critically amid the nationwide coronavirus threat. In fact, some trucks have simply left the road and are temporarily parked until the danger has lessened.
“We shut down in March because it’s not worth coming out and risking your health,” explained Jose Loranzo, owner of Habana Hemingway Food Trucks of Williamsburg. “We were scheduled to be on a number of military bases in March and April, but it got bad and we had to cancel with nothing much going on.”
Another parked food truck was Nosh Modern Mobile Bistro of Newport News, which does many events in Williamsburg, James City County and York County. “I know the struggle is super real now,” owner Brock Houston said. “Quite frankly, I’m in a fortunate situation, my company is not a bread winner. My wife has another company and we’ll be OK, but for the other guys? It’s just ridiculous.”
Houston and Jim Kennedy, owner of Foodatude — food with an attitude — food truck lamented the lack of local government help.
“They’ve done nothing, absolutely nothing, to help our business,” Kennedy said. “Local governments on the Peninsula have virtually ignored us and most businesses don’t have money to which they can fall back on.”
Matthias Herkert, president of Hampton Roads Food Truck Association
and owner of Deutscher Imbiss food truck explained that a major problem in Williamsburg and on the Peninsula is the prohibition of food trucks in neighborhoods.
“We can only go into neighborhoods to deliver pre-ordered food. They want to eliminate people approaching our windows to order. They can only come to pickup food,” he said.
Localities also do not allow food trucks to park on state or city roads, the various local policies stipulate.
James W. Noel Jr., York County economic director, said when the county’s first food truck ordinance was promulgated “it struck a fine balance between the brick and mortar restaurants and food trucks. It was designed to handle craft breweries who wanted food” on-site food to pair with beverages.
“At this time, we’re not considering any changes in those regulations,” Noel added. “We would be very happy to hear again from the (Hampton Roads Food Truck Association) if they have any suggestions” regarding the COVID-19 situation. Likewise, James City County and Williamsburg officials say no changes are being contemplated currently.
Glenn Allen of Hampton, coowner of Flame and Pie Mobile Pizzeria with his wife, Donna, said, “We’ve had a ton of stuff canceled and we’ve had to be creative moving into neighborhoods in some cities where we are allowed and at (craft) breweries.” Their truck was at Virginia Beer Co. April 4, “but we did about one-third of the sales we would normally do,” he said.
Since the pandemic began, Allen explained that his total sales “were down 50%-60%. At that rate, it’s hard to survive.” Like some other area food truck owners, his wife has another job “but I work the food truck full-time. I’ve gone from working 4-5 days a week to 2-3 days.”
Allen also stressed that he’s filed paperwork with the federal Small Business Administration “to get some help, but we’ve not seen a penny. I’m active on a number of food truck and mobile vending websites and no one that I’ve seen across the country has seen any money.”
Hungry Pug Food Truck of Williamsburg has just started an arrangement with Billsburg Brewery on Jamestown Road and will be at the brewery weekly from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. “Our sales, however, are about one-quarter of normal, but at least we have sales,” said owner Scott Coelln.
“We’re all in tough shape. I’m not taking a paycheck and using (revenue) to cover bills and pay other employees. We want to give people an option” for their pickup meals. “We’re giving 50% off to first responders, health care workers, firefighters, police and EMTs (paramedics),” he said.
One of the reasons Houston parked his trucks and Kennedy is faced with problems is also the price for food products.
“I don’t know how some of the restaurants are selling food (for pick up) as cheap as they are,” Kennedy said. “For example, last week a pulled pork butt, not cooked just raw and not carved, was $1.12 per pound, later in the week the price rose to $1.97 per pound.”
Prices are up all over, they lamented. Wholesale grocers are finding food products difficult to obtain “and when they do have food, the prices are way up,” Houston said. “Before I parked my truck, I had to go to Sam’s Club to get my food like everyone else. If they had anything, the prices were up.”