A proposal to buffer restaurants and retail stores from food trucks would virtually eliminate the ability of the vehicles to operate in the Lincoln Square retail area due to the number of restaurants.
The owner of Ann Sather’s restaurant, Ald. Tom Tunney, demanded Chicago protect brick and mortar restaurants from mobile food truck competition, according to a report in the Chicago Sun-Times.
Under a proposal, mobile food trucks would be able to prepare food at the time of serving. Currently all food is prepared in advance.
The ordinance calls for food trucks to be restricted from operating within 200 feet of a restaurant and 100 feet of a retail store that sells food, the article notes. Tunney would not tell the Sun-Times his proposed buffer.
A Google map of the Lincoln Square mall seems to indicate that it would be virtually impossible for a food truck to operate anywhere within the business area of the business district under the buffer currently under consideration.
The ordinance change pits Tunney against another local alderman, Scott Waguespack. Waguespack had introduced the ordinance last year. Waguespack also sponsored the ordinance this session.
