The Verdict is In---Food Trucks in Beulah Concept is a HIT!

Bringing Food Trucks to Beulah has proven to be a HUGE hit with the community!

The first week of the initiative to bring a rotating assortment of food trucks to Beulah's equestrian center has turned out to be a HUGE hit with the community.  I knew it would be--as a Beulah resident for the last nearly 16 years---I know folks are tired of not having more hot food options locally.

So this week I have come out to the equestrian center a number of times and seen for myself the success of this idea.

Some detractors that are detached from reality panned the idea early in the week.  One anonymous poster (who actually railed against anonymous posters--while posting anonymously himself) went so far as to weaponize this idea, and attack me in the comments portion of my blog saying it was "embarrassing" how bad the idea--and that I should be "ashamed"(not really sure what that guy was thinking, seeing, observing......or smoking  LOL---but he obviously isn't rational).  Want a good laugh?  see his delusional comments, the ones he hasn't removed yet, here on the bottom of this post.  Really a whacked-out--lunatic -job!).  Spock would likely call this guy's idiotic, unhinged, and exercised ramblings fascinating....

But nut-jobs and nut products aside---- and back to reality here on Planet Earth----most everyone else (like 99.9%) seems to be pretty upbeat and positive on the outcome.  I've been thanked profusely online for helping to bring the concept out to the Equestrian Center, and for adding more trucks to the site and for getting the fees waived.

And now----------- even the PNJ--no friend to any idea I have ever put forward---is recognizing this idea has been a gigantic, smashing success.

From the article that will appear in print tomorrow in the local section:

"The Escambia County initiative to bring a rotating selection of food trucks to Beulah has proven a success — a hit with locals grateful to pay for meals brought to their area on wheels — as evidenced by the number of munching, crunching and smiling faces spread across the Equestrian Center parking lot Thursday at lunchtime.  Vendors were pleased too — happy for business."

Food Trucks at the Equestrian Center Update: Demand Outpaced Supply!

Folks wait patiently in socially-distanced lines, to order food from one of three food trucks that came out for Beulah's opening evening of food trucks at the Equestrian Center.

I stopped by the Escambia County Equestrian Center yesterday after work.  I wanted to buy food to support the restaurants that sent trucks.  Lots of folks were in the parking lot.

It was day one of a community initiative to bring food trucks out to Beulah--an idea that garnered much support online on facebook and on my blog post regarding this topic last week.

One truck, the "Whacked-Out Wiener" had at least 15-18 people in line, socially distanced.  The other truck had no line, it was the Chic-Fil-A truck.  I went up and spoke to the attendant.

"So how did it go today" I asked.  He replied  "We didn't get out here until 4:15--and we sold out of all of our sandwiches by 5:00PM--Sold out!"  He continued.."We are waiting right now for more sandwiches from out store--they are bringing them to us"

As I stepped back from his truck, sure enough the re-supply came.  When it did, folks flooded his truck and a line quickly formed.

During lunch, I'm told there were two trucks, a Snow-Cone truck and the "Whacked-out Wiener."  Apparently, according to some who have weighed-in---there were customers but no food!"  Demand outstripped supply!

I think as this initiative develops and word spreads among the truck operators--more trucks will come out--and the supply will meet demand and things will balance out--and this will be good for everyone.

For the rest of this week--see the line-up BELOW-- listing the types of food that will be available and at what times as well as the contact:

Bringing the Restaurants to Beulah!

Beginning next Monday, Escambia County will allow up to four (4) food trucks to park in the Equestrian Center parking lot to allow residents to purchase take-away food.   Due to the Pandemic, social distancing protocols will be mandated and hours limited--but because the Equestrian Center operations are curtailed--the vendor fees will be waived. 

I've lived in Beulah for going on 16 years.  It is a growing vibrant community with great people.

But there is not one (1) restaurant in Beulah.  Not one restaurant.

Previously, the only place to get hot food in Beulah was either 1.)  Tom Thumb  or 2.)  Pizza Delivery.

Now, in addition to the Tom Thumb and the Pizza--there is a recently opened Circle K Superstation that sells Hot Food!  Yay!

But still no restaurants.

Publix is coming, and with it will invariably come some restaurants for Beulah.  In the meantime, though, we can do something unique and out of the box.

We can bring the restaurants to Beulah--via food trucks.

There were conversations online last month about the possibility of bringing food trucks to Beulah, and I was asked about it.  I didn't favor charging these vendors a permit fee and I won't support this.
(Our plan will waive the fee(s) for the vendor trucks that participate.)

I called the parks and recreation director Michael Rhodes and he reported that he had been called on the same issue.  He and I put our collective heads together.  It was discussed with administrator Janice Gilley.  Everyone is now on board.

So here's what it will look like.

Vendors who wish to park at the Equestrian Center to sell food will contact the Equestrian Center manager at 850-941-6042 and fill out the registration forms.  The management will outline the specific process in a press release to be put out later this morning which will discuss:

1.  Process
2.  Hours
3.  Restrictions and Stipulations
4.  Clawback provision for permits if social distancing and grouping protocols are not strictly maintained.

The equestrian center property is large and has a huge parking lot. Social distancing can be accomplished by having the trucks park away from one-another and by patrons maintaining 6-foot separation and not gathering in groups larger than 10.

I think many of the citizens of Beulah will appreciate the opportunity to have closer hot food options, and because this helps a segment of business that is really struggling through the pandemic--this has the potential to be a win-win for Beulah.

Bon appetit!