Six months ago, Houston didn't have any designated food truck parks. Then the Houston Food Park opened in EaDo, and it's now inspired two imitators. Just last week, CultureMap broke the news of the new west side My Food Park HTX, but there's already more.
Yet another new food truck park is coming to a former dairy farm on the near northwest side.
"They've done well in Austin, why not Houston?"
When it opens on Oct. 19, the Mangum Food Park will give area residents an opportunity to patronize trucks that typically mostly operate inside the Loop. Co-owner Brent Fisk tells CultureMap that during a six-month stint living in Austin he regularly patronized that city's food truck parks and thought "They've done well in Austin, why not Houston?"
Why not indeed. Fisk confirmed with the City of Houston that as long as trucks are registered with the city and visit a commissary every day, the park wouldn't encounter any regulatory difficulties.
The trucks pay a fee to utilize the park. Unlike the Houston Food Park, Fisk will allow the trucks to sell drinks rather than the park selling them directly to patrons. He says that he's "still deciding (on whether to allow) BYOB."
As for the location, his girlfriend's family owns the property, which he says has natural shade. "We want the public to have a good time," Fisk says.
Towards that end, they're added canopies, picnic tables and games like a giant Jenga made from two by fours and cornhole.
At the beginning, the park's lack of electricity means it's a daytime-only affair, but Fisk says lights are comings soon. For now, it's a lunchtime/afternoon destination with the possibility for more.
The Mangum Food Park will celebrate its Grand Opening Oct. 19 from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. with Angie's Cake, Pho-jita Fusion, The Hungry Lumberjack and more.
