Ahhh. Summer on Strong has finally arrived. Music, food and the buzz of people have returned to downtown. Well, part of downtown… for a few months out of the year… and from the same faces we have seen for decades who already have expansive outdoor seating.
First, credit where it’s due: Summer on Strong has been a great addition to downtown since its inception. Closing part of Strong Avenue for outdoor dining and entertainment has brought energy, people, and business into the city in a way that clearly works.
But if we’re serious about making downtown even more vibrant, it’s time to rethink the ban on food trucks.
Right now, when Summer on Strong begins, restaurants essentially roll their operations out into the road with outdoor food stands and additional seating options. Apparently, food and drink are fine in the street, as long as they come from a brick and mortar 30 feet away.
Allowing food trucks during Summer on Strong (and more importantly all year throughout the city) wouldn’t hurt our downtown — it would strengthen it. More food options attract more people, and more people means more customers spending money across downtown, not just on one block. Competition usually raises the bar, too, which benefits everyone who likes eating food, which last I checked is most of us.
Food trucks also create a lower-cost path for people trying to start a business. Not everyone can afford a full downtown storefront, but a food truck gives more entrepreneurs a chance to build something and brings more variety and diversity to the local food scene. Just ask Little Trúc in Easthampton.
Summer on Strong has already proven people want a lively downtown experience. Let’s open the door a little wider and invite new faces into our city.
Adam Corriveau
Northampton