The City of Tacoma will roll out a pilot program this week that will bring food trucks to three locations in Tacoma.

Beginning at 6 a.m. on Fri., May 1, food trucks will be parked on Market Street, between South 9th Street and South 11th Street, in downtown Tacoma on the first and third Fridays of the month; in Tollefson Plaza, near Pacific Avenue and South 17th Street, in downtown Tacoma on the second and fourth Fridays of the month; and along Ruston Way on the weekends. The program is expected to run through the end of July.

“With support from Metro Parks Tacoma and the City of Tacoma’s Environmental Services and Public Works departments, successful food truck events have taken place before in Tacoma at Wright Park and Cheney Stadium, in addition to the daily trucks we see in many neighborhoods,” said Tacoma City Councilmember Marty Campbell, who also chairs Tacoma City Council’s Economic Development Committee (see “Tacoma Food Truck Fest July 20 in Wright Park,” Tacoma Daily Index, July 11, 2014); and (see “Lumpia World food truck arrives at UW Tacoma,” Tacoma Daily Index, Nov. 8, 2012). “There’s definitely potential for the future growth of this type of entrepreneurial venture, and we felt it was time for the City to develop a program that would harness this market potential.”

According to City staff, the location chosen for the launch of the pilot food truck program is expected to have minimal impact on downtown parking and on most restaurants, and draw more foot traffic to the area.

More information is available by contacting City of Tacoma Economic Development Specialist Kala Dralle at (253) 573-2523 or kdralle@cityoftacoma.org.