BIG RESTAURANT CHAINS JOIN THE FOOD TRUCK REVOLUTION

The food truck phenomenon dates back to 1991 when bohemian mommy blogger and amateur chef Fidget Yirkle began selling free-range head cheese sandwiches and hush puppies out of a converted Divco milk truck. And, until now, the industry has consisted primarily of single-vehicle owner/operators like Yirkle.    

But that’s changing as several large restaurant chains have put their operations on wheels, and owners of smaller food trucks are feeling the heat.  “I used to have this lot all to myself,” said Dodd Smunk, who was using a bullhorn in an attempt to attract customers to his Catfish Bowl truck.  “I sold a lot of catfish back then, but then they showed up,” he said, motioning toward a Applebee’s tractor-trailer food truck parked just feet away from Smunk’s rainbow-hued truck. 

Dodd Smunk, the owner of the Catfish Bowl food truck tries to attract customers as a line forms at an adjacent Applebee’s truck

A long line of hungry customers waited at the Applebee’s window, while just one person, a confused looking young blonde woman, waited at the Catfish Bowl truck.  Smunk walked over to speak with her and quickly returned.  “She wanted to know if I knew where she could find the Applebee’s truck,” said Smunk, slowly shaking his head.