Buying a sandwich from someone selling food out of their truck seems pretty shady to some people. But the mobile food industry is sweeping over Nashville, and the idea seems to be sticking.
As of last Saturday the city has 13 food trucks, carts and vendors serving a variety of foods in many different locations.
Barbie Burgers, The Grilled Cheeserie and other mobile food trucks have adapted a concept similar to that of an ice cream truck, and they use social networks to communicate with their customers.
Every time a truck moves to a new location people are notified by status updates on each company’s Twitter and/or Facebook, along with an estimated time the truck will remain there. So far, this unity between mobile food trucks and social media has proved increasingly successful.
Eden Luquire, a sophomore psychology major from Weaverville, N.C., can attest to their success as a loyal customer.
“I follow The Grilled Cheeserie on Twitter and make it a point to stop by when they are close,” Luquire said. “It’s a really interesting concept, and very accessible.”
The Grilled Cheeserie began running a truck in the Green Hills area on April 1, which began what the Cheeserie successfully deemed National Grilled Cheese Month. According to their Twitter, day three of Grilled Cheese Month resulted in over 300 grilled cheeses sold in three hours.
Although The Grilled Cheeserie’s main menu item is obvious, customers will also find other types of melts and sandwiches sold at the truck. In addition, their daily Twitter updates announce what kind of pudding they will be serving that day as well as any other special menu options available that day.
Barbie Burgers’ menu consists only of hamburgers and milkshakes. However, they do have options such as the veggie burger. This particular truck has only been in service for six days, mainly in East Nashville. But according to their Twitter feed, business has already been very successful.
A former food truck, now permanently stationed at 732 McFerrin Ave. in East Nashville, Mas Tacos Por Favor is an example of a successful truck-turned-restaurant. This food truck sells tacos, obviously, and lots of other types of Mexican food.
The Winnebago that used to be Mas Tacos Por Favor is not going into retirement with the opening of a restaurant. It will still drive and park around Nashville to take food to those who can’t get to the up-and-coming neighborhood less than two miles from downtown.
Esti Dorfling, a senior biochemistry major from Lexington, Ky., thinks the popularity of these trucks will increase as the weather warms.
“The idea is great,” Dorfling said. “It will be especially nice for summer when people don’t want to be cooped up in restaurants.”
Other mobile food trucks such as The Bang Candy Company and Pizza Buds serve food varying from homemade marshmallows to pizza.
For more information on the mobile food truck community, including a full list of available trucks, menus, prices and links to each truck’s Twitter or Facebook, click here.