So I was sitting at the Orange Cat today with my Mom in Lewiston
and I overheard a couple of young women say something to the effect of:
Blah Blah Blah, Over there him, Blah Blah Blah It's like a facebook for Buffalo Blah Blah Blah...
Then I realized that I tweeted that I was there at the OC and this profile page is linked to my twitter account. It's funny because when I looked under the Orange Cat in the search box I saw the twitter account for the chick that was sitting in front of me.
I always used to get crazy about my Ex-Girlfriend talking about specific details about my life out in public. I remember down in Florida I was able to locate a ton of info on someone from 4 words from a conversation on a patio restaurant.
To be honest I really don't care too much as I'm trying to maximize my twitter account to get my Klout score up just because I'm bored with being off of work. But it is creepy sometimes when you're out and you swear you recognize someone then realize that you saw a dating profile of them somewhere on OK Cupid or Plentyoffish.
To me this experience was a bit amusing and goes to show how digitized we are as in the amount of info we can pull up on each other in public with just a tiny bit to go on. Yet going over to them and striking up a conversation in person would be ultra creepy. It's just part of the whole text but don't call type of thing that we've moved into these days.
The Funny thing is Most of the food trucks by the time they are someplace I've missed them and I'm a fan of Llyods.... I think what we are maybe really debating is what is fair?
What is really an even playing ground is an interesting question really.... Don't get me wrong I love the truck idea but since you are outside you can walk and eat or lean on a building or find ground or someplace to sit.... So would it be fair for Bigger trucks less mobile that had a setting area? So I admit there any sit down place does have an advantage ......
Now what I would love to see but it will never happen is for all the food truck people and anyone who owns a bar or any place food is served to have a big giant round table and state what they think about food trucks and the issue then let the law makers watch and let them come up with some fair laws.... Now the reason I mention bars is a few years back at I think taste of buffalo not sure they had this big lot and Labbatt had a truck with a set up that you where buying beer right from the Semi truck and up top there was a stage.... The other reason I mention bars is that the ones who serve food and beer have two things.... Don't know NYS laws but why can't there be a Beer truck (granted drinking any thing out side would be a crime) but that is what they do at Thursday at the square set up the truck back and put up tables and there you go......
It is great that we have great food trucks.... But most good things get ruined by a small number of bad people... It would be nice to have the right laws in place so it doesn't happen... But both sides have just as much right to their ideas on the laws...
My main concern is that food truck can roam free with out hurting any one else who is selling food including not really mentioned in this the food cart people... There also needs to be some way or some system that works and is fair to deal with bad food trucks... If there is some problem it shouldn't take a month to fix... You just report the problem and the inspectors show up and see what the problem is... I hold this both ways... If a food truck is set up selling taco's Mighty Taco can't send some guy dressed in a board sign or what ever for mighty taco in front of his truck to try and steal eaters .... "hey that is a long line what you getting....OH that is called this down the street a bet your there isn't a line there never is at this time" type of thing....
"The Point is if you are in stock trading or any other form of capitalism there will all ways be predators and people who just want to fuck or who will fuck you over and as cool of an idea as food trucks are gotta make sure that there is no way for them to do that......."
What I'm saying is....substitute "Food Truck" with "Brick and Mortar".
For the record, I don't even care for Lloyd's, though I've only once been a patron. The reality is that personal preference isn't what's important here; it's about what's fair.
Consider this: 20 years from now, most food establishments are based out of trucks. The concept of brick and mortar fast food places is antiquated, thought of as terribly inefficient. High-traffic locations are free'd up for other businesses that can make more appropriate use of them and possess a synergy with the food trucks that frequent the sites.
Either this sounds possible or laughable. If it sounds possible, then what this law does is stymie innovation. If it sounds laughable, then it weakens the argument that this will somehow destroy these businesses.
In the end, ETS has the ability to make a truck of their own. They are on equal playing ground. 500 feet seems more than reasonable to me to prevent any shock to the establishment. Trying to block them from the village does not.
What is 500 hundred 500 both ways in a walking area never walked it out Zillycakes ? End Of Bidwell Park? Point is it doesn't matter... Everyone loves the new thing and says this is great but no one wants to worry about the dark side... Everyone loved the tech of flash Mobs and singing Christmas songs or having a pillow fight... But now they are in the news for the damage they cause and that is all many people know of them....
Many Years ago I was in Toronto and this holds true for any other Big city (not Buffalo size).... It was dark out some truck was selling food I was hungry but city that big no way I'm taking my chances from eating from that truck....
Now quality of Lloys vs ETS do I really want to pay $7 for one taco eh maybe but that isn't the point the point is with out the right regulation some thing made for summer that in theory could go any where could cause someplace else to close....
Both sides have just as many rights to try and get the laws to favor them.... But I'm not going to boycott Just Pizza.... That would be just as I don't want to say dumb to say Llyods is trying to be young and hip and skip the rules so I won't eat there.....
One other thing that the law needs to address is food trucks near food trucks..... The reason I say this is could all the food trucks say be in a certain empty lot.... What if say Jim's or ETS or Mighty Taco as examples want to start a food truck.... and that brings up my point about why ETS needs protection.... Why can't say Mighty Taco who's locations all ways seem to change why can't they go out and get 2 maybe 3 trucks make them hybrids or what ever type of fuel source they like and send them out at what ever time they want to Elmwood?
As Another Example why can't some National company set up Desert trucks on Elmwood and try and get sweetooth and Zillycakes to close......
The Point is if you are in stock trading or any other form of capitalism there will all ways be predators and people who just want to fuck or who will fuck you over and as cool of an idea as food trucks are gotta make sure that there is no way for them to do that.......
Peter: These trucks cannot set up within 500 feet per the rules they have agreed to, so your scenario of trucks setting up on each side is something that would not happen. The problem is that these establishments want to push that barrier out to well over 1000 feet, which would essentially block trucks from the entirety of Elmwood and other similar areas. That's a power move that should leave a bad taste in your mouth.
In the end, if they have a good product, they shouldn't have to worry. And if they don't have a good product, maybe it's time they focused on fixing that problem. The quality of ingredients Lloyd uses are obviously well above that of ETS, and they are also pricier. They are not similar businesses, but ETS wants to muscle out any competition.
And as for the 'hard earned money' of ETS, let's remember that this was the place that avoided $400,000 in taxes just recently.
I'm not knocking ETS overall; they have done some nice things. But they don't have a leg to stand on. Being a respectable business doesn't mean you can push lynch laws into place.
Another good article
:::link:::
Personally I don't go to any of the three places anymore. So I'm not changing my habits at all.
Only having so much money to go around doesn't entitle anyone to it. The last time I checked it we do have an free market capitalistic system at least on paper in the USA. If one cannot make it in business on their own, it's not my problem.
As of right now there is no permit process or law other than NYS sanitary rules. There isn't any way if they even wanted to get a permit to operate on public property. The city council REFUSES to make any rules because of pressure from ETS, Jim's & Just Pizza. They now operate on PRIVATE PROPERTY by invitation only. WHAT ABOUT PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS?
It's all about pressure from people that have clout in the city to prevent anyone from competing against them. The ones with the friends in high places make the rules in this city. Forget about the free market or capitalism. That's why Buffalo fails, it's all about who you know not about the best product.
Here you have someone that moved back to Buffalo to go into business, but the dude from Jim's is afraid of competition down the street, calls a friend and shuts it down. You have someone with a new idea, but because people have pull they snuff it out.
Just watch the story :::link:::
This is why Buffalo fails and the rest of the country succeeds. We don't allow outsiders in unless they're going to school at UB. Well that's an over exaggeration but this is how the rest of the country operates. We just have the mentality to protect our turf and shy away from new ideas.
Sorry Gotta Disagree with you With the ETS.... They Burned down... Opened up a new place then a bank wanted it moved again....
So you are telling me that if you poured your own hard earned or loaned money into a place (It takes enough money to be able to lose money for about 5 years granted that might be a fancy place with wait staff and all that) and found your spot and had a good client tell you would be ok with who knows whom from who knows where being legally allowed to set up a truck 10 feet from your place so that anyone who wants a Taco can go to the truck instead of your place..... I know I sure wouldn't want them to be able to....
The other factor with food trucks is..... There is only so much money to be spent on that kind of food.... Now if I sell tacos like the 3 places mentioned most people can't eat those every day... Now if that truck hangs out by where they work next time on elmwood no one will buy a taco they just had them yesterday....
See like Flash Mobs everyone thinks oh we have great food trucks and we do.... But like flash mobs it only takes one bad one or worse yet how about out of town people who could bring trucks in and try to put local buffalo places out of Business hey why can't (now that they are in the burbs out near the Galleria mall it would be silly) Chipotle say come in with a fleet or really all they need is two and part on either side of ETS..... Kill all there summer Buisness then vanish......
Just Pizza (yes I remember when that is all they had) not sure how the franchises are Have put a lot of money and time into being the best Specialty Pizza place .... Where this I think ties in for them and Jim's Is that I think they both are at other festivals and have there own set up and charge more..... Now Lets say someone comes up with a pizza truck they could be not even part of say The Italian Festival and Park where everyone walks to enter... Or if they are part of the festival be another pizza place oh and then when that Festival ends for the night go drive and hang out at their corner....
I love the idea of food trucks and think they are great.... I do agree in a free market.... but the problem is in this fucked up country of ours people lie, cheat and steal so they can make half a cent more and so there has to be a way to make sure that that the playing field is even I say the trucks should be like the ice cream trucks and play music and not camp out with the exception of festivals in that case just like the stands they have to stay there for entire thing and can't leave and come back the next day.... You have to bring the supplies to the truck....
On a side note how is the food inspected and how are they inspected for clean and good food?