Food truck parks are sprouting up across Houston. After beginning last summer with the Houston Food Park in EaDo, the movement grew thanks to My Food Park Houston in the Energy Corridor and the Mangum Food Park near Oak Forest. Beginning Thursday, Midtown joins the fun with Midtown Mobile Cuisine.
Co-owner Ren Garrett tells CultureMap that she and her brother intend for Midtown Mobile Cuisine to be a "haven for food trucks" that are currently prohibited from operating downtown. The space should appeal to diners as well, thanks to one very important element: Electricity.
Having on-site power means lights for nighttime service, a stage for performances and, most importantly, a little peace and quiet. At Houston's other parks, trucks use generators to power their electrical systems, and the resulting din and fumes can undermine the quality of the experience.
Having on-site power means lights for nighttime service, a stage for performances and, most importantly, a little peace and quiet.
Garrett says they want the park to be "for the community" and adds that her family has owned Midtown business Klassic Hardwood Floors for 20 years. Each day of the weekend will have a theme, with fashion trucks on Friday, a market during the day and car club promotions at night on Saturday and a jazz brunch on Sunday.
While Garnett's still recruiting trucks for shifts at the park, she's encouraged by the initial response. "It gives me warm fuzzies to hear vendors say 'I get your vision,' " she says. So far, Doughmaker Doughnuts, Blaze It Up and Betton's Comfort Food have signed up.
Garrett acknowledges her location is close to the Houston Food Park but she isn't concerned about the potential for competition.
"There's enough for all of us, I think," she says.
Midtown Mobile Cuisine will begin a soft opening Thursday and host a Grand Opening April 4. Check Facebook for hours, trucks and more.
Midtown Mobile Cuisine will be Houston's fourth food truck park.
