Business & Tech

Food Trucks: Friend Or Foe?

Do food trucks add to urban vibrancy or detract business from restaurants?

Whether selling corned beef, lobster rolls or cupcakes, you may be seeing more of them on Bethesda’s streets during lunch hour – food trucks. 

But what might not be so obvious is the “quiet debate” around town as to whether these mobile vendors might be detracting business from the brick-and-mortar restaurants that are the signature of Bethesda’s downtown.

This month, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center posted a survey on its blog, asking residents their thoughts on the treat-hocking trucks.

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“On one side of the debate, opponents of the trucks say they unfairly compete with brick and mortar restaurants and take up valuable street parking,” the blog entry read. “Supporters, including Planning Director Rollin Stanley, say the trucks add to a sense of urban vibrancy, and serve a demand for quick eats by those who can't afford to spend an hour in a sit down restaurant.”

Adding to the concern is that food trucks escape paying the rent and taxes that restaurants do and may be offering similar food options, according to Ginanne Italiano, president of the

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“When you have the lobster truck selling lobster rolls in front of Freddy’s Clam Shack, they’re selling the exact same thing – but the restaurants pay rent and taxes and have to go though much more rigorous inspections and everything else, so it might be an issue,” Italiano told Patch.

While many chamber members love the foods trucks, Italiano said, she’s working with local leaders to see if there might be a “happy medium” that would allow vendors to keep coming to Bethesda’s streets without posing direct competition to restaurants.

In Washington, D.C., food trucks have been making headlines in recent months as the District considers a proposal that would allow vendors to stay in one place for up to two hours, but allows for groups to petition for “zones” in which the number of food trucks could be limited.

Residents have taken the debate to the local media, as well. Feb. 19, Bethesda resident Paul S. London wrote to the editor of the Washington Post: “If food trucks can escape the burden of rent that their competitors must pay, that hardly makes for a level playing field.”

The note prompted a Feb. 24 response, published in the Post, describing food trucks and restaurants as “apples and oranges.”

Where do you stand on the food truck debate? Take our poll below and lend us your feedback.


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