Finding the Perfect Spot: Where To Park Your Coast 2 Coast Food Truck
Getting started with a Coast 2 Coast food truck can be an exciting new chapter for your business. You’re drawing in new customers, getting outside of your restaurant, and moving around, and there’s a new optimism about your growing business. However, the first couple weeks may be trial and error of knowing where to park your truck. There are many different options, but there are also plenty of regulations and parking restrictions to be aware of.
Finding the perfect spot can help ensure your business is successful and attracts many customers. The key is to find a location with high foot traffic and plenty of potential customers hungry for delicious food. In this article, we’ll discuss some tips for finding the best spots for parking your Coast 2 Coast food truck.
Local Regulations
Before you can start parking your truck in a certain area, you’ll need to ensure you’re aware of all the local parking food truck regulations. These are different for every city and state, so it is important you do your research before starting a business with your food truck. In general, almost every city or state is going to require you to have a parking permit for your Coast 2 Coast food truck. This gives your business permission to park in specific areas outside of zoning restrictions. Once you have obtained this permit, you can generally speak with the county clerk about places you can park your truck. Also, be sure to check if there are proximity laws in your area; these restrict you from parking within a certain amount of yards from a restaurant or other food truck.
Consider The Competition
Another consideration to take into account when selecting your Coast 2 Coast food truck location is your competition. When picking a location, consider the following related to the competition:
- Are there restaurants nearby with a similar menu or food type as yours?
- What is the pricing of your menu compared to the restaurants or trucks around you?
- What type of marketing is your competition doing?
These are all important factors to consider as you want to make sure you can stand out from the other food trucks and restaurants in the area. Knowing what your competition is doing lets you know how successful your Coast 2 Coast food truck will be.
Customer Location
Customer location is possibly the most important factor to consider when picking your location to park your Coast 2 Coast food truck. This can very well decide how successful your business will be. To find potential customers, check out the local spots and look for densely populated areas or places where there are likely to be customers with more of an expendable income. Primary locations can also include places with a high amount of office buildings or tourist attractions.
Ideal Places To Park Your Coast 2 Coast Food Truck
Now that we have discussed what to consider when deciding where to park, let’s look at the best places to park your Coast 2 Coast food truck to ensure success. Keep in mind this will fluctuate throughout the year as different seasons bring various types of tourists and visitors, as well as festivals and events.
Outside Tourist Sites
Tourist sites are great places to park your food truck, as there are usually large groups of people walking around and looking for a meal. These areas tend to have the most foot traffic since they bring out tourists who don’t know the local area.
Near Universities
Universities are great places to park your food truck as they draw large numbers of students who appreciate convenient and affordable meals. Not to mention, most college students are usually on the go and do not have time to stop and sit down in a restaurant. Look for parks or gathering areas near campuses that have a lot of foot traffic so you can ensure that people know about your truck and will be able to find it easily.
Farmer’s Markets
Farmer’s markets make for great places to park your food truck as they are filled with people looking for something to eat on the spot. Since these events are usually full of people walking around shopping, they would definitely appreciate a quick meal from a food truck they’ve never tried before. Farmer’s markets also take place once a week or even a couple of times a week, making them a constant source of income. However, they may not be easy to come by in the colder months. Also you may need to obtain additional parking permits or register your vehicle as a vendor at the market.
Streets Festivals
Street festivals are great places to park your Coast 2 Coast food truck as they offer you the chance to be seen by many people who may not have otherwise heard about your business. Street festivals tend to draw large groups of people, so it’s a good idea to reach out and see if there is one in your area that you can participate in. While these usually take place around holidays or select weekends, this is still a great opportunity to meet some new customers, introduce them to your business, and make them regular customers at your restaurant.
Beaches
Beaches are also great places to park your food truck, especially when more people are out and about in the summer. Beachgoers are always looking for something to eat, and it’s easy to capture their attention if you’re parked near them. Plus, the beach environment can create a fun atmosphere for customers to enjoy.
Finding the perfect spot to park your Coast 2 Coast food truck is key to ensuring your business succeeds. Whether it’s outside tourist sites, near universities, farmer’s markets, or street festivals, there are plenty of great spots for you to set up shop and start selling. With these tips in mind, you will be able to find the best spots for your business and be flexible to change with the seasons. Try different locations on multiple days until you find what works best – remember to remain flexible and open-minded when looking at potential locations.
Ready to get started with a Coast2Coast food truck? Contact us today for a free consultation.