Apparently some local business owners only believe in free markets for themselves and not for everyone else. Jackson Ward 1 Councilman Quentin Whitwell is pushing Jackson to legalize food trucks. They are popular in other cities and a source of controversy as restaurants don't like losing business. Local restauranters such as Jeff Good and Nathan Glenn are no exception to using the government to shut out competitors as they whined to Clarion-Ledger:
""As a restaurateur ... the idea of having a mobile food service entity move at will to sell food at peak times and take business from the very neighborhoods we've worked and built up - that's a concern," said Sal & Mookie's owner Jeff Good, who qualified his concerns by saying he approves the intent of the plan....
But Good and others said recession profit margins already are small, and if not written well, such an ordinance could severely damage their businesses.
"Restaurants downtown live by lunch," Good said. "You're paying rent by selling five meals a day.
"I would be very worried to see the potential for trucks to descend on downtown - which provides a great quality of life but could be make or break on restaurants, which in turn would decrease quality of life."
Rooster's and Basil's owner Nathan Glenn said he doesn't think Jackson can support the food truck scene.
"I don't see this as a big foot-traffic city," he said, comparing Jackson to other places that have made the concept popular, like Austin and Birmingham. "The population counts in Austin demand food vendors, and we have plenty."
Glenn also doubts Jackson can provide enough vendors to make it worthwhile.
"Nobody in there has ability to pull off higher end stuff they're talking about in Austin," Glenn said. "Not that many restaurateurs in Jackson really cook. About a dozen. The rest heat and serve." Article
Oh really? Capitalism is capitalism. Period. The beauty of the free market is the consumer makes the choice. Mr. Glenn and Mr. Good want to be able to have their cake and eat it too: Free markets for only themselves and not for any competitors who can offer more convenience and lower prices. If I were Mr. Glenn, I would worry more about the blandness of his spaghetti at Basils (The blandest I've tasted anywhere) or if Mr. Good how overpriced some of his fare is than trying to use the government to protect them from competition. This is no different than mortgage companies offering better service and lower rates than banks or Laptop manufacturers complaining about tablets and Iphones.
Those that wish to operate food trucks still have to invest a considerable amount of time and money in vehicles, maintenance, training, supplies, and other costs of operating a small business. There is no guarantee food trucks will succeed nor they will kill any businesses. Free markets are either good for all or good for none. Entrepreneurs such as Sid Scott and Tom Ramsey have just as much right to achieve the American dream as do Jeff Good and Nathan Glenn. Jackson should approve food trucks and let the free market reign.
57 comments:
Well said. I for one, would like some affordable lunch options downtown. $10 for the special hamburger and fries makes me bring my lunch most days.
Yup. Had a burger at Parlor last week for $13 bucks and the meat was pink. If they are going to cook it like that the waiter should ask how you like it cooked.
Wait. Food trucks are "illegal"? There's a law on the books against "food trucks"?
You know, I've lived here 16 years now, and I love it here.
But we are straight-up the most backward state in the country.
Empirical data shows that food trucks and hot dog vendors increase restaurant business. Every major city has them EXCEPT JACKSON. Duh.
At lunch time we have a portable hot dog stand come, he serves hotdogs, BBQ sandwhichs and frito chili pies. He stays for a couple of hours and moves to another location that has a later lunch break than us. He does a pretty decent business.
I think that something like that would do good in downtown JKN would be cheaper than going to MCD's! And when it is pretty out- you can eat outside and enjoy a nice day.
I mean....why not??? Would love to see a taco truck or hotdog stands...As long as their sanitary.
And you don't see Baskin robbins freaking out over the ice cream truck
I'm all for food trucks, but people need to understand that the nice ones (the ones I would eat from) usually aren't much cheaper than our restaurants. I just like the idea of variety! I'm also one who goes out for lunch almost everyday.
Did any of you watch any of the food truck competition shows? They showcased trucks from different parts of the country.
Hmmm...how about this idea: Food trucks might actually make the brown-baggers leave their offices and once they are out, see what else is going on outside.
Hmmm... maybe Good and Glenn should join in, not stop it. I have been thinking about opening one of those stands but have no restaurant experience (a recipe for disaster...). All for it. Every other city in America has them. Good promotes downtown but maybe only if it suits him.
Yeah. The only good things basils makes IS the sammiches. Would be perfect for carts or trucks.
different perspective - our crime problem would put these guys in serious danger - you ever tried getting a pizza delivered in some areas around town (industrial areas). I know, I know dont live your life afraid UNLESS you know what the barrel of a gun looks like pointed at you by some thug. but if the could keep the animals from robbing them then i think its a wonderful idea
I don't know if Nathan Glenn's comments count as "whining" -- perhaps he is trying to discourage the plan by emphasizing the possibility of failure, but he didn't express any personal opposition to food trucks.
That said, J. Kev nailed it -- it's ridiculous that we have to have a plan to legalize food trucks. Under what law are they currently illegal?
As someone who works in an industry that has seen massive and wholesale change over the last 20 years, I can sympathize with the fear of a new form of competition, but to ban food trucks is simply protectionism and limits consumer choice unnecessarily.
If food trucks can't work in Jackson, then we'll find out pretty quickly, won't we?
While I agree with much of what you've written I do believe local restaurateurs have some legitimate concerns. Jackson is a finite slow growing marketplace. That was before the economic downturn. The multi-year slide in the special taxes collected to pay for the convention center more than confirms a stagnant or even contracting market. Restaurants must obviously, first and foremost, compete on the Ps but shifting market share in a no/slow growth market from one business to another won't grow total revenues from the sector. A tax revenue argument can be made that the bricks-and-mortar businesses yield, in the final analysis, significantly more total taxes to Jackson. I also believe the trucks will impair the overall strategy downtown the most. Jackson lacks demand not supply. The risks entrepreneurs are willing to take on a new approach doesn't make it not so. I'm not opposed to the trucks but also don't believe that the decision, for all involved, is as simple as you portray.
I thought that according to the "Official History of The Guys Behind Bravo", their first idea was to have a hot dog truck downtown.
For me, I want a franchise of the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck to drive by my office every day.
So the government or the competition should decide how many restaurants or food trucks we should have?
So suppose it is a big convention around twelve noon on Saturday. Let me see, There are a few restaurants open on Capitol street but that is it for proximity. Seems to be the food trucks could be right there and would do well.
Jackson had hotdog vendors downtown in the late 70's, until the downtown restaurants got together and had the city outlaw them. Some things never seem to change.
The "Salty Pimp" looks especially good.
http://www.biggayicecreamtruck.com/goodies/
Empirical data shows that food trucks and hot dog vendors increase restaurant business. Every major city has them EXCEPT JACKSON. Duh.
Yup. Data also shows that titty bars in close proximity to convention locales drives alcohol sales. Big time.
Somebody seriously needs to do a crepes truck around here. Savory and sweet options.
When I travel, the line I see around a crepe truck is VERY impressive.
Crepes and fancy lemonades. I would love to do it myself. If and when this is allowed though, I bet it's a logistics nightmare.. Where you can and can't park.. Entering into different counties, etc. Bet the rules suck.
April 15, 2011 @ 10:20 AM:
"Data also shows that titty bars in close proximity to convention locales drives alcohol sales."
Maybe that is the solution. Detroit is exploring the legalization of prostitution and marijuana in order to get people to move back.
Legalizing activities already going on would certainly keep a number of Jackustanians already here from moving out.
I know, let's combine food trucks and adult bars in downtown. The variety of topless menu items would be limitless. Of course the prices would be really high. You could use the brass poles to hold up the awning.
How did I know this was coming?
Joke all you want but having those food trucks manned by hostesses in revealing swimwear is something that has been successful across the USA.
Only in this hick ass city and state would this be an issue. Yet ANOTHER reason people don't want to live here and we are last in everything.
Food trucks have been a staple in the construction and industrial scene here for decades. The employee breaks were determined by what time the truck pulled up and honked the horn. It was more of a need rather than a trendy option. As usual, the "Ooh, I have a thought" people will run with it, charge out the wazzoo, and most likely have mediocre (if that) food. But, sure beats waiting forever for bland spaghetti and overpriced, raw hamburgers.
Pass the ketchup, please.
1:51, we are not last in everything. Alabama has now passed us as the fattest place on earth. But I have great faith in the people of Mississippi that we can regain that crown by eating much, much more and exercising even less (if that is possible...)
2:16 what an uninformed DUMBASS you are. Do you get out much? Do you ever watch Adam Richmond on "Man versus Food"? Have you been to the "Foodtruck Fest" in Memphis, Atlanta, LA, Austin (or even heard of them for that matter)?
Yes the redneck sandwich trucks still are as you say, but you are clearly uninformed as to the latter. Take a vacation and leave Rankin County for a week or so.
Have you been to the "Foodtruck Fest" in Memphis, Atlanta, LA, Austin ...?
Have you?
Tamales. NOW.
4:24...yes.
Doesn't matter. Just like in the past, the restaurant owners (Jeff Good) who have given lots of money and support to the politicians of the area will prevail. They didn't buy those pols for no reason. They don't want any more competition, period. Interesting that we haven't heard from Malcolm White on this.
they are only protesting long enough to build up an arsenal of food trucks so they can corner the market once it's legalized.
Beyond a struggling Quiznos franchise how many restaurants has Ben Allen owned/operated in Jackson or anywhere else?
This is the type of deal that kills Jackson from being the "progressive new city of the south" that people here seem to pat themselves on the back about. Oh man, food trucks sell food; thus they would compete with existing restaurants, and we can't stand for that! By far the most vocal opponents to food trucks are area restaurantuers, duh! To hear some of them tell it, they are a couple of bad weeks away from going out of business as it is, and now, they may have Food Trucks to deal with!? If you are struggling like that already, do you think it may have something more to do with your business acumen and not necessarily a potential Food Truck encroachment? There are some restauranters here whose ambition and egos have driven them to extend their credit limit beyond what a prudent, rational business person would have. I'm sure the interest they are carrying eats a profit margin down to the bone. Whose fault is that.....FOOD TRUCKS?!!
Competition is not evil. Food trucks would possibly encourage existing area restaurants to amp up their game. The trucks are not likely to operate 24/7 and their hours and locations could be limited, like liquor stores. Exactly how they will compete with a nice restaurant experience I am not sure. You aren't going to sit down and be waited on at a food truck, and that's the main reason you go to a restaurant. Otherwise, you get takeout. It's two different experiences. Nicer restaurants usually have a core group of established, devoted patrons that will show up every weekend provided the power is on. Are these same restaurantuers going to denounce area grocery stores? Afterall, they sell food that people can cook, and eat and thus it competes with their business!
What ever became of capitalism and free enterprise? It's the American way! Frankly, I'm all for survival of the fittest, not survival of the status quo. Give food trucks a chance. They are the ones that may fail miserably; we just don't know. Open your minds, people!
Competition is great except when it comes to selling the Standard Life building to the highest bidder.
It's nothing more than a different business model. If the business owner chooses drive through only, sit down or a combination of both it's their choice to take on that overhead and receive the profits that may eventually go with it.
If you choose to run out of a mobile site you have overhead, it's just different. Have you looked at the cost of those trucks? Ouch.
As long as they pay taxes like any other business for the services they receive then welcome to the neighborhood.
Maybe a thirteenth "restaurant" that actually cooks will bring a fourteenth and fifteenth. The more there is to offer, the more people will use the services. It all has to start somewhere...unfortunately, its just not normally in Jackson.
What is going unreported here, even by Kingfish, is that much of the opposition isn't about the food trucks nor a fear of competition.
The problem is how this legislation was pursued by the greenhorn Twitterwell thinking he could ram through his version without negotiation or compromise.
Do some digging Kingfish. Talk to some people outside of your comfort zone. There you'll find the other side of the story.
Dang straight, 9:56, that Kingfish is one closed-minded egomaniac living in an echo chamber.
Nothing to dig 9:56. Really simple. People want to join the rest of the world and get food trucks. Mayor and staff have been dilly dallying with portable vendors for over a year. Whitwell finds out about it, and takes action. Mayor off hook regarding having to man up and face the whiners. Whiners turn a simple issue that the rest of the world enjoys into a fuss, and they will probaly get some watered down chicken shit ordinance that sucks.
Negative wins out yet again, and the "Bold New City" is once again left at the alter.
Period.
End of subject.
When the Convention Complex has events on Saturdays and Sundays, where do the convention attendees eat? Almost all restaurants downtown are closed.
Enter food trucks and hot dog stands.
Duh.
Mr. Good reminds me of Henry Holman fighting Albertson's. back then Jackson had VERY high grocery prices. No competition, just Kroger and Jitney. Backlash was so bad Henry rushed down to the CL to meet with the editorial board to say he didn't oppose Albertson's after all.
No different here. Good and others want protection from competition.
By the way, what other side is there? My position is make them comply with specific health and safety requirements, mandate a certain level of insurance, and maybe impose some color schemes or code where they have to keep them in working condition and looking good, no peeling paint or something similar.
Of course, wherever they park should be between them and the owner of that space.
I see the Harvey Johnson haters are here.
Cheers.
Are there any Harvey Johnson lovers ANYWHERE? Funny, just a few years ago, Harvey was thrown out of office because everyone knew he was incompetent.
The food carts need to park at Dogwood Festival Market. Tamales, NOW.
Of course, wherever they park should be between them and the owner of that space.
So, therefore, you oppose the food trucks parking on public streets and any government owned parking.
I've eaten at a bunch of these in recent trips to Philly and NYC. All were parked in the street (always near an intersection) or on the sidewalk. That is what justifies the involvement of the city government, and (unfortunately) gives Harvey another chance to screw something up.
Maybe he'll send the food trucks to Pearl, and tell us "Eating food is a white people's thing" ;-)
The trucks WILL BE IN RIDGELAND WRITE IT DOWN when Jackson blows it. Why can't a single AA rise above the race shit and be a good Mayor?
Why can't a single AA rise above the race shit and be a good Mayor?
Why did NE Jackson vote as a monolithic bloc for such a woefully inexperienced candidate like Marshand Crisler?
Anon 8:00, because they remembered how bad Harvey sucked as Mayor just a scant four years before. Pretty simple really, anyone would have been better than a proven eight year long failure. The real question is, "How stupid do you have to be to vote for the very guy that was defeated because of his incompetence just four years ago?"
Of course, right when the water mains ruptured because of the cold weather, Johnson blamed the "previous administrations" because he knew no one was smart enough to realize that he was talking about HIMSELF.
God Love You Paul but the situation with Jackson's infrastructure is more complex than that while the NE Jackson opposition to Harvey Johson is more racist than anyone cares to let on and you care to admit.
Yes, Anon, the reason Jacksonians voted Harvey out and Frank in was RAAAAACISM!!! But, but, but, Frank was black, too. Weird. And the NE folks voted for Crisler because of RAAAAACISM? Odd argument, but okay.
By the way, Harvey's skin color is not the reason for his incompetence, it is his ideology that is to blame.
The trucks have been in Ridgeland for months already, around the construction work near AJ's and Soulshine, Sollberger's, etc. All Hispanic, IIRC, with taco trucks, tamales, etc, starting in mid-morning.
As far as a previous comment is concerned, Tehran will have a Big Gay Ice Cream Truck franchise before Jackson ;-)
Of course Jacksonians are racists - they voted for Melton over Harvey because he had a minimally lighter skin tone. Nothin at all to do with a record as a successful businessman vs a record of total failure as a "public servant".....
As far as a previous comment is concerned, Tehran will have a Big Gay Ice Cream Truck franchise before Jackson ;-)
You really are an idiot. Not jackassery, just pure unadulterated homophobic idiot.
Those are the kind of brain dead klukkers who give you a bad name KF.
I am assuming "klukker" means "Klansman?" Funny, Harvey Johnson is a member of that party.
I'm the one who first mentioned the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck and I don't see what is homophobic about suggesting that every city on the planet will have one before we get one. Hell, it took forever for us to get Haagen Dazs and Ben & Jerry's and Coors Beer, etc., etc. The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck is a real food truck in NYC selling super gourmet ice cream treats.
Federal Courthouse, One Jackson Place, Smith Park, Convention Complex....perfect. I work for an engineering company downtown. Please bring these offerings downtown.
11:22, I think they were making fun of Jackson, not gays. See, Tehran is kind of conservative. By saying Tehran would have a franchise with "Big Gay" in the title before Jackson, they were saying... oh fuck it. you are an idiot.
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