Readers: Do you think a food truck event would be a welcome addition to the EAV?

I would go up to the Farmer's market a lot more often if there was something there that I could get from a food truck right in the market. I often get bored of the burgers/bar menu that every single restaurant in EAV has. Even still, the bars would still benefit because I would already be up there and probably go for a beer or two.

Yes.

It would be welcome by residents, but not so much by the restaurants and bars. But I agree with Kat that the bars would still be getting business from those who want to get a drink after hitting up a food truck.

At this point I feel lunch trucks would have a negative impact on the restaurants in EAV. The idea works in Buckhead because the herds converge on Buckhead every Thursday. The businesses in Buckhead have worked together to promote Thursday nights in Buckhead, the lunch trucks there are a novelty and people do like them. In EAV they would just be competition for what traffic there is on whatever day they decide to do it. There is no uniform promotion for EAV as a destination, the pieces of the puzzle are there but no one has yet to put them together. EACA seems split when it comes to promotion of EAV as an entertainment district. The bars and restaurants want it but the residents resist it so nothing gets done. Anytime someone tries to move in that direction it goes nowhere. If EAV did become a destination like Buckhead Thursdays have, then the lunch trucks would have an added value. One other point is that the lunch trucks would have to make enough money to stick around and the weekday traffic in EAV isn't sufficient to support them. If they are looking to do this by spring or summer then the village leaders (business owners) need to work within EACA and EABA to promote EAV as a destination. They also need to get some rehab money for the village from the city and push forward some code enforcement to beautify the approaches to the village. When you come down Moreland from I-20 first impressions of East Atlanta aren't exactly welcoming.

Good Luck! I'd love to see it all come together to be what it can be. Sooner or later the NIMBY's in the village will have to deal with the fact that the village is growing and new restaurants and bars are opening, if they want to live in seclusion try Cherokee County.

I can't think how many times I've headed to the food trucks at Krog Street, only to end up at some restaurant nearby, instead. Restaurateurs initially resisted the idea of food courts in malls, only to find that the concentration brought more customers to the area. How could we use the food trucks to generate an influx to benefit them as well?

Great idea. But don't do it on Thursday unless it's right by the Farmers' Market. Lets keep all the small folks going strong. Great idea for at least one night of the week though!

Well RD you may feel that way, but you can't have it both ways. The charming array of bars and restaurants aren't just there for your convenience, they are there to make money. If they don't, they will go away. Like I said, the lunch trucks aren't going to rush to EAV so they can sit idle and compete with the bars and restaurants for a dozen or so customers. It will never be successful with out a crowd, they will not stick around, they want to make money too. You might not want a Buckhead Thursday in the village but I'll just bet the bars and restaurants wouldn't mind it. Let's try thinking about supporting what we have, with what we have and not making it even harder for the businesses already here by adding more competition.

Would LOVE to see this - I think it would be great for EAV businesses!

I think its a great idea!

The restaurants in East Atlanta are all pretty lame unless you want a burger. It would only add to EAV. It would probably help the restaurants too by bringing more people to the area.

Just a thought, but the competition would probably do the area some good.