They're already a common sight at festivals across Windsor-Essex, but if an entrepreneur has his way, food trucks will be just as common place on Windsor streets.
Adriano Ciotoli, who promotes culinary tourism through his business WindsorEats, thinks it's time city council loosened the rules on food trucks. Right now, they're prohibited from setting up in business improvement areas, near intersections and bus stops.
There are fears food trucks will steal business from established local restaurants but Ciotoli says the cities that have allowed them see the opposite impacts. "People who are wanting a quick bite to eat are going to continue going to the food trucks," he says. "But people who are wanting to sit, have great service, wanting a drink with their meal are still going to continue going to the restaurants. This is just drawing more foot traffic to the places where those restaurants are."
Ciotoli would like to give BIAs like Erie St. the opportunity to opt out, but believes it could provide other areas a much-needed boost. "Like Ford City, which is looking to reinvent itself," says Ciotoli. "(It) would be allowed to opt in, and allow food trucks in their area to help foot traffic."
So far, an online petition has over 500 signatures, but Ciotoli says he'll wait until he has closer to 1,000 signatures before taking it to city council.
