south orange Food truck double standard?

I posted this under Seton Village Food truck post.. I wanted to have food truck in South Orange and was told it isnt permitted under health code. How is it they can approve it for 1 or 2 nights?

Not to mention the rule is ridiculous....

Welcome to South Orange! Lots of ridiculous rules here!

Does Seton Hall allow food trucks on campus? Would the rules be different because it is a college campus vs a public street? Maybe reach out to them. I'm sure the students would love something like that. What kind of food does your truck serve?

SOguy said:
I posted this under Seton Village Food truck post.. I wanted to have food truck in South Orange and was told it isnt permitted under health code. How is it they can approve it for 1 or 2 nights?
Not to mention the rule is ridiculous....

SOguy said:
I posted this under Seton Village Food truck post.. I wanted to have food truck in South Orange and was told it isnt permitted under health code. How is it they can approve it for 1 or 2 nights?
Not to mention the rule is ridiculous....

Rules and laws only apply to things that don't put money into city coffers.

SO has some rule against fast food "throw away" forks, knives, plates, etc. Most restos that open don't hae these for this reason. Dunkin and Starbucks get away withit because they are "cafes". Myabe open a "cafe" truck?

Well, I can see why food trucks wouldn't be welcome with open arms on a daily basis, as I imagine they would compete with local brick and mortar establishments.....whereas a one off street festival in Irvington Ave is a bit of a different situation

Not to mention the rule is ridiculous....

You do realize you are talking about a town that illuminates its streets with gaslights just to spite Thomas Edison, who has been dead for at least 80 years?

memorial said:

Not to mention the rule is ridiculous....

You do realize you are talking about a town that illuminates its streets with gaslights just to spite Thomas Edison, who has been dead for at least 80 years?

I don't even know where to start on this one. The gaslights are quaint and historical, and there are several other towns in NJ that have also retained them - Glen Ridge and Cape May to name two. Thomas Edison was not even a factor. He was, in fact a proponent of DC power distribution, and was overruled by the AC contingent led by Nicola Tesla, well before electric power was widely available to South Orange. Gas lights were installed way before that, and many houses actually had gas lights inside. We just decided to keep them for historical purposes as street lights.

Those three towns you named are New Jersey's only towns with gas lights.

Rob_Sandow said:We just decided to keep them for historical purposes as street lights.

yeah, it had nothing to do with being passed over in favor of West Orange for creating a massive industrial factory complex.

I called and asked. Its a HEALTH Department rule/ issue. Again how is it permitted 1x a year .. people might get sick.. (sarcasm). The Village can License the trucks== revenue.

Gas lights , whats the problem with them? Sure the light isnt great but they look good and have character. As for cost of gas its a tariff from 1963 or something== CHEAP. I know because I looked into it when Gas was $10+ MCFE and I was worried our costs would massively increase. Then I Figured we could turn off lights for 6 months sell the gas and hire extra security, pay off village debt.. (yeah it was a crazy idea)

While the oddly authoritarian Health Dept's policy is unsurprisingly asinine (then inspect and license the trucks like other municipalities do, geniuses), that a govt body should have different rules and processes for itself than for private individuals and businesses shouldn't be a surprise.

memorial said:

Rob_Sandow said:We just decided to keep them for historical purposes as street lights.

yeah, it had nothing to do with being passed over in favor of West Orange for creating a massive industrial factory complex.

The point I was trying to make is that we could have replaced them with electric street lights at any time over the past 100 years if we wanted to. Edison has no involvement in the reason why we still have gas lights, if he ever had any involvement.

But then again, having gas lights has nothing to do with food trucks.

Personally I'm not excited about having food trucks in relatively small downtowns such as M/SO. They're better suited to larger cities or to specific areas that have a lot of offices and attractions but not a lot of restaurant options. But, sure, someone should be able to present a proposal and to have it considered, rather than just being told that it's a health issue.

Alrighty! Raise of hands for who is gonna stuff their faces with food truck stuff Friday? Me!

SOguy said:
I called and asked. Its a HEALTH Department rule/ issue. Again how is it permitted 1x a year .. people might get sick.. (sarcasm). The Village can License the trucks== revenue.
Gas lights , whats the problem with them? Sure the light isnt great but they look good and have character. As for cost of gas its a tariff from 1963 or something== CHEAP. I know because I looked into it when Gas was $10+ MCFE and I was worried our costs would massively increase. Then I Figured we could turn off lights for 6 months sell the gas and hire extra security, pay off village debt.. (yeah it was a crazy idea)

So by law, SO citizens should only get sick 1x/yr from food trucks? Silly. I LOVE a good food truck. Never understood that they hurt other businesses in the area. Some people don't have sit down and dine time while others do. The ones who don't enjoy a food truck (my time is not monitored but I'd still go for a food truck and devour it once home!) Some of the best Mediterranean food I've ever eaten was off a food truck.

We've all gotten a bit queasy from eating something in a restaurant. Can't say I've ever been ill from a food truck.

Food trucks are great. Except if you are a rent paying food establishment that has a food truck park outside. Or a person looking for parking and spaces are taken up by food trucks.

Summit now has 2 food trucks plus some prepared food stands at their farmer's market so perhaps that it a compromise.

SHU has one food truck on campus that is operated by the same food service folks as the dining halls. The University also has private company food trucks for events on campus - International Day for instance. They pay a fee to the town for each truck application - health dept and fire dept both charge fees and then the day of the event the Mr. Festa arrives to inspect them, if they don't pass, they don't serve. I understand why food trucks are not permitted on the town's streets on a daily basis - not sure why they aren't permitted at events like the Concerts on the Hill.

There were food trucks at the various flood's hill events this summer.

soorlady said:
SHU has one food truck on campus that is operated by the same food service folks as the dining halls. The University also has private company food trucks for events on campus - International Day for instance. They pay a fee to the town for each truck application - health dept and fire dept both charge fees and then the day of the event the Mr. Festa arrives to inspect them, if they don't pass, they don't serve. I understand why food trucks are not permitted on the town's streets on a daily basis - not sure why they aren't permitted at events like the Concerts on the Hill.

They are competition for stores that actually pay rent, take up parking spaces, noisy, smelly, etc. I can understand why they would be limited to special events and it is not only one night per year. They are at the concerts, movie nights, National Night out and not sure if there were any other events.

Let them open up a business in S. Orange if they want to be here on a more permanent basis. I would not want trucks on our streets every day /night - seems like the current system works just fine.

bog said:
There were food trucks at the various flood's hill events this summer.

soorlady said:
SHU has one food truck on campus that is operated by the same food service folks as the dining halls. The University also has private company food trucks for events on campus - International Day for instance. They pay a fee to the town for each truck application - health dept and fire dept both charge fees and then the day of the event the Mr. Festa arrives to inspect them, if they don't pass, they don't serve. I understand why food trucks are not permitted on the town's streets on a daily basis - not sure why they aren't permitted at events like the Concerts on the Hill.

Yes indeed. Delicious!

mbaldwin said:
Alrighty! Raise of hands for who is gonna stuff their faces with food truck stuff Friday? Me!

I hope the waffle truck is back again. I saw them at the Fosterfields Country Fair a few weeks back but didn't have time to get a waffle

Good to know - I stand corrected!

bog said:
There were food trucks at the various flood's hill events this summer.

soorlady said:
SHU has one food truck on campus that is operated by the same food service folks as the dining halls. The University also has private company food trucks for events on campus - International Day for instance. They pay a fee to the town for each truck application - health dept and fire dept both charge fees and then the day of the event the Mr. Festa arrives to inspect them, if they don't pass, they don't serve. I understand why food trucks are not permitted on the town's streets on a daily basis - not sure why they aren't permitted at events like the Concerts on the Hill.

mikescott said:
They are competition for stores that actually pay rent, take up parking spaces, noisy, smelly, etc. I can understand why they would be limited to special events and it is not only one night per year. They are at the concerts, movie nights, National Night out and not sure if there were any other events.
Let them open up a business in S. Orange if they want to be here on a more permanent basis. I would not want trucks on our streets every day /night - seems like the current system works just fine.

Evidently a brick and mortar owner

actually, I work in the city and don't own a business - but if I did own a business and paid rent, and donated to many local groups, I would not be too happy if a food truck competed with my business unless there was evidence they were drawing more people to the area.

Personally, I don't think that most areas of our town would be appropriate for full-time food trucks...but if you feel strongly that our rules are too stringent, then you make a more detailed proposal and convince our local government to propose a change in the regulations to make it possible (e.g. define legal locations, hours and other restrictions).

Obviously there are rules under which we allow food trucks, at least for events, so you'll need to be more specific about what you want to do, and why it was rejected.

SOguy said:
I posted this under Seton Village Food truck post.. I wanted to have food truck in South Orange and was told it isnt permitted under health code. How is it they can approve it for 1 or 2 nights?
Not to mention the rule is ridiculous....

mikescott said:
actually, I work in the city and don't own a business - but if I did own a business and paid rent, and donated to many local groups, I would not be too happy if a food truck competed with my business unless there was evidence they were drawing more people to the area.

There are many brick and mortar businesses in NYC that are doing very well when competing against food trucks. Businesses that have difficulty competing against food trucks should rethink their business. Often food trucks increase all business by their vibrancy of drawing more people outside to the area.

I like the choice and diversity that food trucks bring. Ultimately, its the residents who determine when a food truck succeeds. Who are we to deny the will of the residents who desire food trucks?

Are we to protect against possible failure or possible loss of income by restricting competition?

I am sorry, but there is no comparing midtown NYC to S. Orange. Do you really think more people will come to S. Orange because there might be a couple of food trucks? There are office buildings in NYC with thousands of people and plenty of business for everyone. That just does not hold true in small suburban towns. For instance, food trucks work in New Brunswick, but they have a very large university, a conference center, hotel, and hospital all within a few blocks of each other. Food trucks will only go to locations if they are sure there is a large number of people who will be within walking distance.

Imagine if a food truck selling burritos and tacos parked in front of Tito's? do you think that would have a negative impact for Tito's ? or a slider truck opening in front of Stony's? or a cupcake truck in front of Cait and Abby's? The trucks can easily have a price advantage over brick and mortar stores. My guess is we would have more empty storefronts if the town did not regulate the trucks. And do you think the town should charge a permit fee or just let the trucks park wherever and whenever they feel like it ?

mikescott said:
They are competition for stores that actually pay rent, take up parking spaces, noisy, smelly, etc. I can understand why they would be limited to special events and it is not only one night per year. They are at the concerts, movie nights, National Night out and not sure if there were any other events.
Let them open up a business in S. Orange if they want to be here on a more permanent basis. I would not want trucks on our streets every day /night - seems like the current system works just fine.

Well said. I work in NYC, and back when Bloomberg was mayor I always thought he should crack down on food trucks -- and their pollution-spewing portable generators -- as a public health nuisance, being that he went after smoking in bars/restaurants, calorie counts, soda sizes, etc. He never did, but maybe that's because I wasn't his adviser.

Food truck(s) in South Orange? No thanks

Possibly one or two food trucks on Irvington Ave would be welcome. An interesting possibility would be to rotate the licenses every six months to give a variety to the offerings.

I think it could be a great thing to draw folks to the Irvington Ave stretch, notsomuch appropriate for downtown. Cap the number of licenses if you will