Bricks-and-mortar businesses in downtown Scranton say their beef against food trucks is about fairness, but at least one food truck owner said the mobile kitchens are playing by the rules.
Food trucks have been paying $20 a day for full-day street-meter parking that has been obtained from both the current meter manager and the former one, the Scranton Parking Authority. But a city ordinance allows only two consecutive hours of parking downtown where the trucks do business, city officials said.
Brendan Bell, owner of Southwest Savory Grill food truck, said of the dispute, "You can buy and reserve a parking meter for a day, which we do. It's not a parking issue. These (bricks-and-mortar) people think we're stealing their customers, which is not true. They don't want us down there. If people are complaining, if they make a better product, customers will go there."
Establishments say they don't fear competition, but the playing field is not level.
"I pay property taxes. For them (food trucks) to pay (meter) rent of $20, I think it's very unfair. My biggest beef is I pay mercantile taxes," said Robert Dickert, owner of Carl von Luger's Steakhouse and Seafood Restaurant at Linden Street and North Washington Avenue.
It's not clear if the food trucks pay mercantile taxes; city offices were closed Friday. But it clearly is a major concern of establishments.
Plea to mayor, council
Julie and Darby MacDowall, owners of Northern Light Espresso Bar on Spruce Street, earlier this month emailed the mayor and council, stating, "As downtown business owners in the center of the city, paying taxes, 15 employees' wages, unemployment compensation, mercantile taxes, and paying a premium to be a part of the downtown business district, it infuriates us that we find ourselves competing with a truck that has little to no overhead. We consider ourselves an anchor business here in the city and the foundation of the Scranton Life building."
Frank Mazzarella, owner of Cafe Trio and Chocolate Creations, both on Spruce Street, and Bill Nasser III, co-owner of Backyard Ale House on Linden Street, agreed.
"It's difficult to conduct a business in an establishment. They (food trucks) put the core businesses at a disadvantage," Mr. Nasser said.
Parking pressure
The food fight, which has been brewing for at least several weeks, arose during council meetings on March 21 and Thursday, when Councilman Bob McGoff noted that businesses are concerned about food trucks parking for extended periods, especially around the Lackawanna County Courthouse, and question whether they operate under the same regulations as established businesses.
Council sent a letter Monday to Mayor Chris Doherty and acting Police Chief Carl Graziano relaying the complaints and citing the city's administrative code mandating that parking in certain zones is limited to two consecutive hours between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
In a reply Tuesday, Chief Graziano said food trucks paying for all-day meters has been ongoing from when SPA managed the meters, but this practice may be in conflict with a city ordinance and needs legal clarification. Mr. McGoff said the city should review whether an ordinance violation exists and whether food trucks pay the same fees and taxes as established businesses.
Food trucks also apparently must stay at least 100 feet away from any establishment serving food. The MacDowalls urged the city to make that distance 500 feet. Mr. Dickert said food trucks should be required to stay 100 feet away from any business that pays mercantile taxes.
Either way, the trucks would be shut out of much of downtown, Mr. Bell said.
"They want us gone - that's it," Mr. Bell said. "Every city across the country has food trucks, and we're just getting to it a little late. Just because we're on four wheels doesn't mean we're not a legitimate company. If I opened up a business right next to them, would they be mad?"
Mr. MacDowall said Portland, Ore., has designated two city blocks for food trucks, and that area became a destination - and Scranton should consider something similar.
"We have a tentative solution. We welcome the food trucks to downtown Scranton but feel they should be in locations where they become a draw and help to improve the downtown business community," Mr. MacDowall said. "I understand competition and enjoy competition, and wish there were more mainstay businesses downtown."
Contact the writer: jlockwood@timesshamrock.com, @jlockwoodTT on Twitter