Skip to content

A town square for an unsquare town

redbankgreen

Standing for the vitality of Red Bank, its community, and the fun we have together.

RED BANK: FOOD TRUCKS UP FOR DISCUSSION

johnnys-1-111113-500x332-7424332John Yarusi risked a summons when he parked his Johnny’s Pork Roll truck on Wallace Street in a short-lived experiment test of borough law in 2013. (Photo by Jim Willis. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

hot-topic_03-220x138-220x138-7378486Is Red Bank ready at last to unlock the gates that keep out food trucks?

The idea of easing restrictions on food truck operations came up at last week’s borough council workshop meeting, as it has in the past. But this time, it’s not being summarily rejected by the agency that promotes the downtown business district.

red-bank-gas-station-050719-500x375-3197243The vacant gas station at Riverside and Bridge avenues is a possible location for food trucks, says the borough administrator. (Photo by Trish Russoniello. Click to enlarge)

Borough Business Administrator Ziad Shehady floated the idea of allowing food trucks to operate on private property, “with restrictions, obviously.”

“There are a lot of food trucks that are interested in coming to Red Bank, and doing business in Red Bank, but they have no mechanism by which they can do that,” he said.

John Yarusi, owner of Johnny’s Pork Roll & Coffee truck, opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant at 8A Monmouth Street last November after several failed attempts to persuade borough officials to allow him to operate his truck in town.

Now prohibited by ordinance, food trucks might be permitted on “underutilized” properties where “projects are stalled” or in bankruptcy, Shehady said, citing the long-vacant gas station at Riverside and Bridge avenues as a possible location.

“Or maybe you’ve got properties that have large parking lots that maybe in the evening hours would benefit from food trucks,” he said.

Shehady said some suggested parameters defining what would be allowed, and the conditions, have been drawn up for possible consideration by the council.

“My idea is that we explore this a little further, because it can help the community, in terms of the economy,” he said. He said food trucks also might attract “new, emerging businesses.”

He noted that he had not yet discussed the idea with Red Bank RiverCenter, the administrator of the borough’s special improvement district, wanting first to gauge the council’s interest. In addition, he said, his idea didn’t call for allowing trucks within the district.

“I don’t know that, within their jurisdiction, there are many private properties that can host food trucks,” he said. “That’s not to say they don’t exist.”

In the past, RiverCenter has opposed food trucks, and RiverCenter executive director Jim Scavone told redbankgreen via email Tuesday that the organization hasn’t changed its position “yet.”

But RiverCenter, he said, “is currently in the process of re-evaluating food trucks in the district and at special events. We are currently having discussions with the business community and, specifically, with the restaurant community to weigh the pros and cons of allowing food trucks. As always, our focus continues to be on supporting the businesses in the designated RiverCenter district.”

Borough planning director Glenn Carter cautioned that brick-and-mortar businesses may object — though “that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it,” he told the council. And abandoned properties may remain undeveloped “because now there’s a revenue source.”

“The other option is to allow them on public property,” such as the borough hall parking lot, when not in use by the municipality or the Count Basie Center for the Arts, Carter said.

The idea of opening the gate appeared to have consensus support. Councilman Michael Ballard said he “was all for it, as long as they clean up the property.”

Councilwoman Kate Triggiano also endorsed the suggestion, noting that Teak restaurant on Monmouth Street was at one time interested in partnering with the Cinnamon Snail vegan food truck. That idea died a quick death in 2013.

Cinnamon Snail, owned by Adam Sobel, and another prominent food truck are owned by borough residents, Triggiano noted. Allowing them to operate here would keep the business in Red Bank “so they’re not going to Asbury Park or Gateway National Park at Sandy Hook,” she said.

Shehady said Carter will work up a draft ordinance for future discussion.

Remember: Nothing makes a Red Bank friend happier than to hear "I saw you on Red Bank Green!"
Partyline
RED TRUCKS AT RED ROCK
A small dishwasher fire at Red Rock Tap and Grill was put out quickly by firefighters overnight, causing minimal damage. Red Bank Fire Depar ...
CREATIVE COVER UP
The windows of Pearl Street Consignment on Monmouth Street were smashed when a driver crashed their car through them injuring an employee la ...
THEY’RE BACK!
Ospreys returned to the skies over Red Bank this week for the first time since they migrated to warmer climes in late fall. With temperature ...
SPRING IS SPRUNG
RED BANK: Spring 2024 arrives on the Greater Red Bank Green with the vernal equinox at 11:06 p.m. Tuesday.
RED BANK’S FINEST – AND NEWEST
Red Bank Police Officer Eliot Ramos was sworn in as the force’s newest patrolman Thursday, and if you’re doing a double take thinkin ...
EASTER EGG MAYHEM AT THE PARK
An errant whistle spurred an unexpectedly early start to the Spring Egg Hunt on Sunday, which had been scheduled to begin at eggsactly 11am ...
PRESEASON DOCKWORK
RED BANK: With winter winding down, marina gets ready for boating season with some dockwork on our beautiful Navesink River.
CORNED BEEF AND DISCO FRIES?
It’s Friday, and smart Lent-observing Leprechauns know the pot of gold at the end of Red Bank’s rainbow is actually the deliciou ...
SURFBOARD DITCHED
It’s a violation of etiquette in surfing to ditch your board.  (it could hit another surfer and hurt them). But someone appears to ha ...
ELSIE, TAKE ME WITH YOU!
Soaked by pouring rain with the temperature hovering in the low 40’s, this sign in the window of Elsie’s Subs on Monmouth Street ...
WALK THIS WAY
PARTYLINE: Before-and-afters of a sidewalk cleanup on West Street.
SOGGY NOTION
RED BANK: Breezeway sculpture captured the mood downtown as heavy rains fell Saturday morning.
HOME DELIVERY
RED BANK: After a subdivision, an instant house rises on a new Catherine Street lot.
COMMUNITY PROFILES
For Black History Month, Red Bank's Community Engagement and Equity Advisory Committee has been running a series of local profiles on Facebo ...
HEARTY FAREWELL FOR HARDY
RED BANK: Council to honor DPU supervisor Rich Hardy, who retired recently after almost 39 years of keeping things running.
HOMEBOUND? READ ON…
RED BANK: Can't get to the public library? It's now offering free delivery and pickups for homebound borough residents.
TAMING A BEAST OF A WEEK
RED BANK: After the second snowfall of the week, a borough family finds the perfect use for it – a Godzilla snow sculpture.
RED BANK: LIBRARY CLOSED, BUT THE HILL’S OPEN
RED BANK: Though the library was closed by a snowstorm, kids got to enjoy the riverfront property's steep slope Tuesday.
LIGHT(HOUSE) MAKEOVER
This year, getting ready for spring means a midwinter makeover for Strollo's Lighthouse in Red Bank.
TODAY: LOCAL PUPPY COMPETES ON ANIMAL PLANET’S “PUPPY BOWL”
Red Bank’s very own rescue puppy, Biscuit, is set to compete in Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl this Sunday, February 11, at 2 PM. Th ...