AUSTIN, Texas — Food trucks in Austin may now have an easier process when it comes to annual inspections, thanks to a resolution recently passed by the Austin City Council.
Currently, Austin food truck owners have to get their trucks towed to be inspected. That means they have to shut down for one or two days, resulting in losing customers and employees losing work.
Maria Everett, the owner of Ensenada ATX in East Austin, said that in addition to losing money from closing, getting her truck towed can cost anywhere from $400 to $500.
“It’s very painful losing money, losing time, losing customers,” Everett said. “When we close, they say, 'Why are you closed?'”
Everett opened Ensenada ATX after she moved to Austin from Ensenada, Mexico, two years ago. Her daughter, Stephanie Everett, encouraged her to bring seafood tacos and tostadas to Austin.
As soon as she opened up, she was greeted with a warm Texas welcome.
“People started coming,” Everett said. “It was amazing, all the support from Austin people.”
Now, Everett has created her permanent spot and family with the other food truck owners at the Arbor Food Park in East Austin.
“We help each other. We are like a ‘familia’, we call it in Mexico,” Everett said.
Helping all these local food trucks is why several council members wanted to pass this resolution.
“Small and micro-businesses are the lifeblood of the Austin economy, and we can never underestimate how necessary food trucks and their owners are to the story of our great city,” Councilmember José Velásquez (District 3) said.
Velásquez said food trucks are a way for aspiring entrepreneurs to break into Austin’s vibrant food scene. That’s why he’s passionate about making the permitting process easier for local food trucks.
“It's time for us to reevaluate our permitting procedures and explore more cost effective, efficient and equitable alternatives that support rather than hinder the growth of our local food truck industry,” Velásquez said.
The Austin City Council said getting inspectors to go out to food trucks like brick-and-mortar restaurants will come with more costs. For its next meeting in May, the council indicated would bring more recommendations, an implementation plan and staffing costs.