[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[L'homard]

Originally Posted by Budyser

Anyone know what's going on with the Zios project? No activity within the past 2 weeks.

There has been a delay in the arrival of the steel work. It should arrive next week.

[Sandbagger]

An article from CBC this morning about the struggles that food trucks are having in downtown Moncton, with some hope that the Downing St project can become a new hot spot.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/moncton-food-trucks-leaving-1.3760682

[Nashe]

Originally Posted by Sandbagger

An article from CBC this morning about the struggles that food trucks are having in downtown Moncton, with some hope that the Downing St project can become a new hot spot. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/moncton-food-trucks-leaving-1.3760682

I don't understand why they are not encouraging MORE trucks downtown. I'm regularly bummed by the lack of variety there.

[Taeolas]

Originally Posted by Vorkuta

I don't understand why they are not encouraging MORE trucks downtown. I'm regularly bummed by the lack of variety there.

Because Food trucks are tacky, fly-by-night dirty operations that encourage inappropriate behaviour and don't bring as much money to the city, unlike those permanent restaurants in buildings who would be losing business to said food trucks.


Or at least I'm sure that's similar to the thinking/justification for keeping them very limited.

Freddy has food truck limitations that basically force most of them out of the city, even though we have a couple of locations that would/are great Food Truck courts. (One right next to Relish downtown is finally starting to take off).

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by Vorkuta

I don't understand why they are not encouraging MORE trucks downtown. I'm regularly bummed by the lack of variety there.

Probably pressure from restaurants. That's what happened here in Fredericton when someone wanted to open a "food truck court" on a vacant downtown lot. A completely backwards approach IMO.

[Nashe]

Originally Posted by OliverD

Probably pressure from restaurants. That's what happened here in Fredericton when someone wanted to open a "food truck court" on a vacant downtown lot. A completely backwards approach IMO.

Silly, though. There really isn't much competition with the trucks in DT moncton... it's all sushi and subway.

[OliverD]

The Fredericton food trucks regularly set up shop on private property adjacent to some of our breweries which is pretty cool.

[Nashe]

I mean really... food trucks are relatively inexpensive lunch-time fare. Different clientele than Freshii or the sushi places or the full-blown restaurants. There really isn't a lot of "lunch" food downtown in Moncton. I don't get it.

[Taeolas]

I suspect it's a change in attitude that is only catching up to us here in NB.

I know Chip wagons have been popular in many places I've been to (Ottawa, Cape Breton), but I've never really seen them take off here in Freddy. I suspect it may be due to people expecting them to be 'less clean' and 'less good' in general.

Now, Food Truck cuisine in general is going big across North America, and we're getting new truck owners in the region trying to take advantage of them; and the people especially seem to be warming to them; but old attitudes in City Hall (plus possible pressure from established brick and mortar places) are restricting the food trucks.

[Scarface]

Food trucks are the "Pirates" of the food industry, or at least that's the portrait that is painted of them when you see videos of food trucks blocking restaurant entrances, and parking anywhere, and everywhere they want. Also the licensing issues since they are restaurants on wheels. People don't see them in a positive light, and I see why. But I do agree that food trucks would make a difference downtown.

[josh_cat_eyes]

Originally Posted by Scarface

Food trucks are the "Pirates" of the food industry, or at least that's the portrait that is painted of them when you see videos of food trucks blocking restaurant entrances, and parking anywhere, and everywhere they want. Also the licensing issues since they are restaurants on wheels. People don't see them in a positive light, and I see why. But I do agree that food trucks would make a difference downtown.

They're not Piriates. I don't know what videos you're talking about, and I highly doubt that's what the portrait of Moncton food trucks looks like. They're great for any city.

[BlackYear]

Originally Posted by L'homard

There has been a delay in the arrival of the steel work. It should arrive next week.

Really? It's been 3-4 weeks with no activity. It appears that the foundation and water/gas/drains haven't even been touched yet.

Why wait for steel when the fundamental foundation work hasn't been completed yet?

I base my information simply from driving by pretty much every day and viewing site prep.

[BlackYear]

Food trucks....I'm not a big fan. Why? Because anywhere you go in Moncton for a lunch, it's going to cost you $10.

There are tons of places in Moncton which offers a $10 lunch meal. If you are driving a vehicle, you have multiple choices to choose from.

Unless you are walking out of a bar at 2am, then a $5 food truck may come in handy. Other than that, I can't be bother chasing a food truck at a specific location for a $10 meal.

Food trucks can't serve $5 meals because it's simply not cost effective. Good luck to them all!

[Nashe]

Originally Posted by Budyser

Food trucks....I'm not a big fan. Why? Because anywhere you go in Moncton for a lunch, it's going to cost you $10.

There are tons of places in Moncton which offers a $10 lunch meal. If you are driving a vehicle, you have multiple choices to choose from.

Unless you are walking out of a bar at 2am, then a $5 food truck may come in handy. Other than that, I can't be bother chasing a food truck at a specific location for a $10 meal.

Food trucks can't serve $5 meals because it's simply not cost effective. Good luck to them all!

Heck, I'm not talking about $5 meals... I'd be happy with $10 meals... if you want to buy a burger downtown there are great options, if you are willing to wait and pay a lot.

[jtallain]

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

They're not Piriates. I don't know what videos you're talking about, and I highly doubt that's what the portrait of Moncton food trucks looks like. They're great for any city.

Pirates? Maybe in big cities but even then, they usually have street sides designated just to them to park and typically it's not even near restaurants.

[MonctonRad]

As you've pointed out Vorkuta, the ideal location for a food truck village would be Downing Street. There will be parking options for them there. Close to city hall for you too!!

My only concern with food trucks is litter. Downing Street will be such a nice district, it would be a shame to see food wrappers and cups littering the landscape everywhere.......

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by Budyser

Food trucks....I'm not a big fan. Why? Because anywhere you go in Moncton for a lunch, it's going to cost you $10.

There are tons of places in Moncton which offers a $10 lunch meal. If you are driving a vehicle, you have multiple choices to choose from.

Unless you are walking out of a bar at 2am, then a $5 food truck may come in handy. Other than that, I can't be bother chasing a food truck at a specific location for a $10 meal.

Who's driving to a food truck? They're supposed to be in high pedestrian traffic urban areas to serve people who work nearby or who are in the area.

Food trucks are supposed to be convenient and (relatively) cheaper than their restaurant counterparts. That's it. If you're in the Downtown of any major Canadian city you'll find food trucks and they'll be marginally cheaper, and quicker, and than sit-down restaurants.

[BlackYear]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Who's driving to a food truck? They're supposed to be in high pedestrian traffic urban areas to serve people who work nearby or who are in the area.

- The old Canadian Tire parking lot at the corner of Mt-Rd & Mapleton.
- The corner of St-George blvd & Edingburg in the Moncton Industrial Park.

Those are the only two places I ever seen food trucks. Then again, I don't drive around town 24/7, so I'm not sure where else these trucks are located.

Recent CBC articles pointed out that licensed food truck are only permitted at 3-4 designed locations in Moncton. Only 1 vendor (Farmer's Truck) has bought a license. Everyone else park in private lots around town.

Since Moncton is soooo sprawled, I can't see any of these food trucks getting much pedestrian traffic unless they are located right smack in the middle of downtown Moncton on lunch hour.

[Nashe]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

As you've pointed out Vorkuta, the ideal location for a food truck village would be Downing Street. There will be parking options for them there. Close to city hall for you too!! My only concern with food trucks is litter. Downing Street will be such a nice district, it would be a shame to see food wrappers and cups littering the landscape everywhere.......

That's my vision, yes. They were even in the conceptual renders!

IMHO, trucks serve the purpose of fast food take-out. A quick, cheap alternative to sitting down for 45 minutes. Lots of people haul food back to their offices, and a truck works well for that scenario. Plus it adds variety... I'm not the kind of person to pig out on junk food every day, and I find it strange to say this but I *actually* miss the Burger King that was on the corner of Downing/Main. Subway is the only place you can get in/out in 10-15 minutes and spend $10 or less. I used to frequent a certain other "hipster" cafe nearby and while the food was great, it wasn't particularly cheap or fast.

Litter... less of a problem for the day crowd, I think. People are taking this back to their offices and discarding trash there. Evening could be a problem, but I note that at least during the summer, the City has staff doing regular cleanups during the day.

And yes... if you are DRIVING to a food truck, you're doing it wrong. The food truck drives to YOU, that's the point. You park it near dense populations (ie: downtown). If you are chasing trucks around town, something is amiss. If you can walk to a location and see n food trucks (of rotating or varying types) each day, that's the win.

[Patapouf26]

Originally Posted by Vorkuta

And yes... if you are DRIVING to a food truck, you're doing it wrong. The food truck drives to YOU, that's the point. You park it near dense populations (ie: downtown). If you are chasing trucks around town, something is amiss. If you can walk to a location and see n food trucks (of rotating or varying types) each day, that's the win.

I'd like to add that the new (newish) food truck craze is more about getting a quick meal. Many offer exceptional and innovative food choices over what used to be of the fast food (traditional sense) variety. If people drive around and seek them out, it's usually because the food is worth it.