An expanding food culture: Leaders eye possibility of high-end food trucks in St. Clair county

With the onset of bustling new projects and developments happening in St. Clair County, the concept of introducing high-end food trucks to the area is drawing a lot of interest.

It has already taking off in other Michigan cities. In 2013, Traverse City became food truck friendly, and currently has multiple lot locations that cater to the specific needs of food trucks. And the food truck scene in Grand Rapids during ArtPrize offers a robust, wide selection of fare for pedestrians.

"There's certainly a growing sense of a food culture in our region,"says Randy Maiers, CEO and president of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County. "In the summer and the turning seasons on the water, it would be great if we really had some high-end food trucks.”

The challenges
As with any new endeavor, it is not without its challenges. Certain physical conditions need to be met, such as a convenient location with the right amenities and hookups for power and water. Ideally, there would be room for picnic tables for customers to sit, eat, and relax. Additionally, level gravel is necessary for the trucks to safely park.

With Michigan being seasonal in nature, the summer months would be the most ideal time. Even just a couple days a week is enough to impact the local food culture.

There would also need to be enough interest for it, and there are signs that there may be. Just last year, Slow's BBQ truck temporarily visited from Detroit for the boat races in downtown St. Clair, and the gourmet food was very well received. And if you drive by Lakeshore BBQ and Smokehouse, a seasonal, family-owned roadside stand located on the side of the road in Lakeport, you will most likely see a line of loyal customers patiently waiting to order.

The possibilities
It is also worth noting the additional activity that comes with strategically placed food trucks, such as live music, people lounging at picnic tables, and even games. It also has the potential to bring additional customers to the surrounding businesses, such as nearby boutiques, shops, bars and breweries.

The courtyard the Community Foundation built in downtown St. Clair is one area that theoretically may be a good spot for a small handful of trucks. Located right in the heart of the compact downtown area, it is a central location with heavy foot traffic. In addition, the nearby War Water Brewery would be a great counterpart to the food offered from the trucks.

What kind of high-end food trucks would you like to see?
Naturally, the opinions of local residents are varied when it comes to which types of food trucks they would like to come to the area.

"It has to be quality, and needs to be something that complements the restaurants already existing."says Maiers.
Elizabeth Ely, a Port Huron resident, says: "Trucks provided by existing local restaurants, and also health food and organic juice bars.”

"My votes are BBQ and fish tacos!"says St. Clair resident Matt Brooks, "We attended a conference in Dayton, Ohio, a few years back and found that every Friday, a group of great food trucks descend into a park area downtown. In addition to the food trucks, they had yard games set up (ladder ball, corn hole, etc.) and there's usually a soloist or band playing during the busiest lunch time."

What kind of high-end food trucks would you like to see?