DEARBORN — The Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce will host the first of three food truck rallies planned for this summer from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday in the parking lot northwest of Michigan Avenue and Monroe Street.
Patrons can expect eight to 10 food trucks selling gourmet fare directly from their “kitchen on wheels.” Committed food trucks include Franks Anatra, Concrete Cuisine, Treat Dreams, Ned’s, Mack Shack, El Guappo, PPC, and Jacques Tacos.
On average, food items will be priced between $4 and $7.
Future events in downtown west Dearborn will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Aug. 24 and Sept. 21.
The chamber is partnering with the West Dearborn Downtown Development Authority and the city of Dearborn. Westborn Market is sponsoring Friday’s rally.
The Michigan Mobile Food Truck Association schedules regular events in Royal Oak, Ferndale and downtown Detroit.
“We think this will be an exciting and unique way to bring families downtown on Friday evenings for food, fun and entertainment,” Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce President Jennifer Giering said. “These community events have a tremendous economic impact on surrounding businesses with the first event in Ferndale attracting 1,500 people, many of which patronized local bars and restaurants after the event.”
Food trucks experienced a boom just as the economy started to decline in 2008. Restaurateurs who were hesitant to spend money necessary to launch a restaurant turned to mobile trucks as a less expensive way to sell food in a down economy. Existing restaurants experience an upswing in revenue by proximity to these rallies.