A proposal to bring food trucks to downtown East Dundee has prompted pushback from local restaurant owners who say the mobile businesses will threaten their livelihoods.
The village board is considering a new ordinance that would establish three zones in which food trucks would be allowed to park: the east portion of Meier Street, south of Railroad Street; a side road adjacent to 311 Barrington Ave.; and the east side portion of the Fourth Street right-of-way, south of Barrington Avenue.
Under the concept, food truck owners would no longer need to submit an application or obtain a sponsorship in order to to sell food on private property or at local events but they would have to pay a $100 fee to operate in the village.
Dan Hart, owner of D.C. Cobb in the village’s downtown district, told the board this week that he strongly objects to the plan, which he said would not only consume parking spaces businesses need downtown but siphon away customers who would otherwise eat his restaurant or others in the area.
“I’m also very scared it will take sales away from myself and other restaurants in the area that have also made significant investments,” he said at the Monday meeting.
There is community support for food trucks in village, according to a survey conducted by the East Dundee Community Events & Depot Committee. Of the 265 people who participated in the survey, 83% were in favor of permitting food trucks and 76% said they thought food trucks would benefit the local economy.
About 11% did not favor the idea and 16% said they thought the increased competition could have a negative impact on local businesses.
Hart said restaurant owners make a big investment when they open a brick-and-mortar operation and hire people to work there. He paid $750,000 to renovate his 311 Barrington Ave. location and spends about $7,500 a week on labor costs, meaning he needs to make at least four times that amount to make ends meet, he said.
“The food side for us in East Dundee has been a bit of a struggle,” Hart said. “Our late-night hours allow us to stay open.”
Joe Condo, owner of Diamond Jim’s Gas Grill at 325 Meier St., said he has no problem with the food trucks that participate in village events and festivals but having them around all the time would be “detrimental for us.”
“Every sale we are clinging on to everyday,” Condo said.
Tequila Val’s, the Mexican restaurant opening in the former Anvil Club, is counting on customers to make his business a success, owner Colin Hegarty said. Having a taco truck parked outside would be direct competition, he said.
While he acknowledged that food trucks can bring people into a village or town, he couldn’t support the amendment as it was currently written, Hegarty said.
Village President Jeff Lynam said he’s not for or against the ordinance, but “we’re talking about it as if it’s a really cool thing that needs to be done. I’m not convinced of that.”
Trustee Scott Kunze suggested researching other communities’ food truck ordinances.
“I don’t think we want to see (our local restaurant) sales cannibalized,” he said, especially since the board is still discussing plans to build a downtown parking deck, which is supported by the local business owners.
“I have yet to find one resident who wants to build a parking deck in downtown,” Kunze said. “But we are still trying to make it happen because you guys want more parking. It’s kind of a give-and-take thing.”
East Dundee invited food trucks into the village as part of a one-year pilot in 2019 but never revised the rules after that trial period ended. The village could consider another one-year program to see how it works, Kunze said.
“We get people who want them and of course we get people who don’t want them,” Trustee Tricia Saviano said. “I’d like to hear the middle ground. I’d like to hear ideas that would make it win-win,” she said.
One possibility suggested would be to limit the number of times food trucks can come into the village. Another would be allowing the trucks to operate elsewhere, not downtown, or holding an annual food truck festival.
A vote on the ordinance was postponed to June 3 so alternatives could be considered.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
