Today, as a friend of a food truck owner, I saw something that I didn’t realize was taking place. I saw someone from the South Branch Tavern Grille call the Chicago Police Department and complain about vending trucks parked on the street. He used a an old city ordinance that was enacted for safety purposes as a way to “protect” their business.

NOTE: CPD that showed up were both helpful and nice about the situation. In no way am I calling them out on their assistance.

First let me recap/paraphrase some of the words I heard uttered by the man from SBTG:

1) I’m only trying to make sure the law that is in place is up held.
2) I have no problems with you, Cupcakes for Courage, but the other trucks compete directly with me.
3) It’s not fair that I have to pay taxes, it gives you an unfair advantage

You are only trying to make sure the law is being upheld? Seriously?  Do you also sit outside and make sure people are not speeding. Don’t use this as a cop out and really say what you want to say.  Say this, “I’m concerned about my business and that these food trucks are impacting my sales. There is a law on the books and I want it enforced to protect my business.” I think that’s a complete line of bull but it’s what you mean, it’s upfront, and it’s honest.

You have no problems with the Cupcake truck because it doesn’t compete with you. Let me rephrase that for you, I only have problems with trucks that compete against me. And if we take that one step further you are really saying that Food Trucks have either better food and/or service than you. If thats the case then shut your doors now because you have other larger problems.

Now here’s the best part, “it’s not fair that you don’t have to pay taxes, you have an unfair advantage”.  I’m going to have to break this down a little further:

A) If you think that Food Trucks have a leg up that put you in a bad position then you are simply a maroon. You serve alcohol. You have a kitchen where you can make whatever you want. You have seating that can accommodate individuals and parties. You are sitting on the river. You have a staff of people to assist you. You don’t have to be in a temporary kitchen at 3:30am making all of your food for the day and then driving around on a truck from 10am until 6pm.

B) You pay taxes because you own and operate on a piece of property that is guaranteed to be there for you day in and day out. You don’t come in on Monday and say “oh, my restaurant doesn’t have a parking space.”  You’re restaurant doesn’t get a flat tire.  You’re restaurant doesn’t get into an accident.

So Mr. Man from South Branch Tavern Grille, you are scared of competition from a truck.  All I saw today was a grown man act like child and hurt something that is actually good for him and other Chicagoans. How is it good for him, well I’m glad you asked.

A) Someone that is looking to sit down for lunch isn’t going to be won over by a food truck.

B) Someone who is looking for a food truck lunch was never, ever, going to be a customer for you that day.

C) A food truck(s) on Wacker drive causes people to stop. It causes them to look around and maybe see your establishment for the first time. I didn’t even know you existed until today, until I saw you from one of the trucks.

D) You serve cookies for dessert. Wouldn’t it be nice that people intentionally had lunch at your establishment knowing, no… looking forward to, a Cupcake afterwards. It’s like in Barrington where the sandwich shop shares the building with the theatre and you can bounce between the two.

The trucks are not going away. All you did today was piss off a lot of local customers. You pissed me off and I will be as vocal as I can to spread the word about your child like actions.

If you would like to voice your opinion to the South Branch Tavern Grille, here is where you can reach them:

• Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/SouthBranch
• Twitter:  @southbranchchi
• FourSquare:  https://foursquare.com/v/south-branch-tavern–grille/4d7141e12c318eecfb6d70b5