Food trucks now offering grub at Main Plaza

Ron Zepeda enjoys some Korean style barbecue from the Takoriya food truck at Main Plaza during the luch hour Monday June 18, 2012. There were four food trucks parked at Main Plaza Monday. Ron Zepeda enjoys some Korean style barbecue from the Takoriya food truck at Main Plaza during the luch hour Monday June 18, 2012. There were four food trucks parked at Main Plaza Monday. Photo: San Antonio Express-News Photo: San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close Food trucks now offering grub at Main Plaza 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

In a move that alludes to the days when chili queens served grub at Main Plaza decades ago, the city has instituted food trucks there twice a week.

It's an attempt to strengthen its food truck pilot program for downtown that also now includes the Weston Centre and Travis Park.

The program began May 1 with trucks parking at HemisFair Park and the City Hall annex lot. The intent was to add another element of life to downtown, but those locations yielded hardly any foot traffic and business for the trucks was moderate to lethargic.

“At Main Plaza, it's in the middle of downtown, and everybody passes by,” Raul Mendez, cook and driver of the Cheesy Jane's truck, said.

Mendez said they did quite well Monday at Main Plaza compared to the City Hall annex lot.

“From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., it was pretty steady considering there were two burger trucks,” Mendez said. Blazin' Burgers, Apizza Mia and Takoriya also served at Main Plaza on Monday.

The program now consists of Main Plaza on Mondays and Thursdays, the Weston Centre on Wednesdays and Travis Park on Tuesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m..

Trucks also are scheduled to operate at Travis Park from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday to coincide with Downtown Tuesdays, the city's free-parking initiative from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.

The city hopes the trucks, and surrounding restaurants, will benefit from the new locations.

“When you bring these food trucks, you bring lots of people to the area — more people than if it was just a normal day,” said Jim Mery, director of downtown operations. “It's an added benefit of choice.”

Michael Mendoza, who operates the Oasis Café kiosk at Main Plaza, agrees.

“Anything that attracts people down there is a great thing,” Mendoza said.

The Weston Centre, 112 E. Pecan St., had been hosting trucks Wednesdays on the lot it owns across the street. But the Metropolitan Health District began enforcing a rule requiring trucks to have permission letters from restaurants within 300 feet.

Now that the city has decided to fold the Weston Centre into its program, the trucks are not subject to the health district rules because a lane of Soledad is closed so the trucks can park on the public right of way.

The Oasis Café, which operates the Main Plaza kiosk, is located a block from the Weston Centre. The manager there said the trucks have affected its Wednesday business, but that they're adjusting.

“Wednesdays are going to be my days to do different specials,” Oasis manager Maribel Mendoza said.

bolivo@mysanantonio.com