Ye Olde Saloon Gets OK to Host Food Truck Rally
After listening to public comment on a request to hold a food truck rally on private property, Royal Oak City Commissioners voted 6-1 in favor of approving a Special Event Permit for a Main Street bar.
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After hearing from the president of the Royal Oak Restaurant Association (RORA) and the police chief, Royal Oak City Commissioners approved Ye Olde Saloon's request for a Special Event Permit (SEP) Monday night to host a food truck rally on Oct. 13.
The food truck rally will consist of four local food trucks parked from 3-9 p.m. in the Ye Olde Saloon's parking lot on the north side of the business. The bar’s general manager, Donna Giles, told commissioners she anticipates approximately 300-350 persons attending the public event, which will include live music and alcoholic beverages.
Interim Police Chief Corrigan O’Donohue told commissioners he did not anticipate the event creating any enforcement issues for the police department.
Proceeds from the food truck rally will benefit Down Syndrome Guild of Southeast Michigan, located in Royal Oak, Giles said. The general manger told commissioners the benefit piece was added to the event after learning SEPs are routinely denied without a charity component.
Food trucks not palatable for all
Carrie O’Neal, the president of RORA, said the restaurant association is adamantly against any type of ordinance that would allow food trucks to sell on the streets or private property near a restaurant on a regular basis no matter what type of product they offer, but were willing to go along with Ye Olde Saloon’s request for a one-day event for charity.
“It’s a good event and it’s for a good cause. Isolated events on private property are an acceptable situation for the majority of our members,” O’Neal said.
Mayor Jim Ellison expressed concerns the crowd estimate was low and that parking might become an issue, especially if the weather cooperates.
“I think you are going to be more successful than you are anticipating,” Ellison said.
He asked Giles to work with the O'Donohue and have an alternative plan in place if crowd size becomes a problem, and then hesitantly supported the request.
“I have a concern for setting a precedence for food trucks,” Ellison said. “I want to support our restaurant association and their statement, but I am willing to give this one a try and see how it works.”
More than a roach coach
Food trucks have grown beyond the roach coaches and taco trucks that started appearing in the 1950s. Gourmet food trucks serve ethnic or fusion cuisine and, thanks to social media, have die-hard followings.
Food trucks have become a popular thing in the region. The Royal Oak Farmers Market runs a food truck rally every month. (The next Street Eats is Wednesday and includes a flash mob.)
Royal Oak resident Nick Britsky believes food trucks attract young people in search of excitement.
“They want that creativeness. They want to see that new food that is coming,” Britsky said during public comment.
In This article
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Ye Olde Saloon
1023 S Main St, Royal Oak, MI -
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Royal Oak Farmers Market
316 E 11 Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI
Alan Stamm
7:40 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Speaking of food truck rallies . . .
A flash mob known as Mitt Mob will dance Wednesday (Oct. 3) while food trucks are at the Royal Oak Farmers Market from 5-9 p.m.. Learn the steps at youtube.com/mittmob.
Tips given to food truck workers that day go to local charities.
Ronald Wolf
1:46 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Pay close attention RORA, while these food trucks are no bargain you can be pretty well assured you are not going home with a belly ache from unwashed lettuce, or something that has been left unrefrigerated a little too long. This is happening more and more in restaurants that are looking to trim their costs and overlooking the number one rule "When in doubt throw it out". This is why I prefer to buy my pizza at places where it comes fresh out of the oven (My favorite is the Neopolitan Fellini's on Washington) and now he has competition in the higher end pizza game.
Last, but not least is public relations, and novelty. While some places have standbys that attract a loyal clientel most diners look for something different, preferably something that they can afford as well. Thus the popularity of Jimmy Johns whose lettuce tomato and condiments are kept behind the counter well cooled. Some RO establishments are featuring as much as half off before six PM which is a great idea along with gourmet sliders, sandwiches, salad and soup SPECIALS, that in better times restaurants were loathe to place on board menu. One thing I do know is absentee management is often fatal as competition with hands on management increases. I would like to see the old concept of "Prix fixe" board menu specials brought back for those of us who appreciate fine dining yet have an affordability problem with ordering "a la carte". Before 6 specials WILL attract more RO family homies. RORA should consider this.
Ronald Wolf
2:09 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
One more thing RORA when I first moved to Royal Oak I received a welcome basket with one subsrtantial coupon from Mr.B's that I would have loved to take advantage of but I was out of town before it expired (hint).
Royal Oak has SO many new restaurants and all very competative, and yet so many of them fail to advertise. Advertising as a group is far more effective than advertising singularly and in the past food courts, and malls would feature full page adds from all of their establishments.
Since RO is becoming "New Orleans North" in bars and dining I would think that a passbook similar to the Metro Passbook that would include not only downtown but Woodward Avenue and eleven mile and more would be a great idea. Especially if fifteen percent of the profits of the passbook sales would go to local non profit charities, as well as focus hope, salvation army etc. Schools can also sell them as fund raiser's taking ten percent sale. It could even extend as far as Berkley and Ferndale to make it more attractive to a larger demographic. Instead of having to go on the computer to look for coupons and having them printed, add the passbook could be kept in your car whether you live in the Bloomfield's or the Pointes.