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High-end food truck offers healthy items
SHERRY KARABIN
Special to the Legal News
Published: August 6, 2013
Many people imagine making their dreams come true, but in the case of Norton resident and parole officer Jeff Neel, you could say he’s giving his a test run.
When his food truck the “Stone Pelican Rolling Café,” hit the road in the summer of 2012, it was the start of a plan he developed nearly 20 years ago, shortly after beginning a career with the Adult Parole Authority at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
“I decided when I retired I wanted to live on the beach and run a restaurant,” said Neel.
At the time, Neel was already married to his wife, Judy. The two met at The University of Akron, while he was getting his bachelor’s in science in criminal justice. Judy chose a career with the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Although the idea of owning a restaurant was firmly planted in his mind, it was not until 2004 when Neel returned to The University of Akron to get an associate’s degree in restaurant management and a certification as a chef that he came up with the name for his dream establishment. Then last summer he purchased a food truck in Miami from a Cuban restaurant owner, had it inspected and designed and was ready to give it a go.
“We are both close to retiring,” said Neel. “We are not sure where we want to go which is why the food truck seemed like such a good idea since we are not stuck with a lease,” he said. “The overhead is also much lower.” In addition, Neel said the truck allows them to make their own hours, which is a necessity since they both still work.
The Stone Pelican is not the average food truck, however. Patrons won’t find hamburgers and hot dogs, but they will see items like fish tacos, chicken and veggie wraps, and a more recent offering, crabby fried green tomato.
“We are a gourmet food truck,” said Neel, who prepares most of the items himself. “We offer healthy foods, including gluten-free and vegan options.
“I was born in Akron but my family is from the South, so I’ve been cooking southern food all my life and I’ve learned how to make things healthier.”
The vegan items on the menu are an idea the couple got from their 22-year-old son, who strictly adheres to such a diet. “The offering of a gluten-free dish just makes sense with so many having a gluten allergy,” said Judy.
The prices range from $5 to $9, and the bulk of the customers are business people.
“Customer tastes vary so we load up everything that we can,” said Neel. “I do have one guy who works with me part time preparing the food.
“Most of the baking is done by a friend of mine who is a professional baker, but Judy has been making our gluten-free, vegan chocolate cake.”
The couple also caters events, ranging from graduation parties to baby showers. Judy is in charge of planning, getting the supplies and handling the window service on the truck.
“Right now we are limited in how many hours the truck can be on the road because we both work full-time jobs, but once we retire we are going to see if we can make enough to sustain ourselves. If we can make enough we might look at moving into a brick-and-mortar restaurant.
“The catering business is very busy right now because we offer gluten-free and vegan food,” said Judy.
The owners do not use traditional media to advertise their business but they do have a website, Facebook page and a Twitter account.
“Social media has been our best friend,” said Judy. “We share our Facebook page with other food trucks that post our events.”
Although the Stone Pelican finds itself in many different locations in Summit County, there is one place it cannot stop, and that is Akron. Current law prohibits food trucks, except those selling ice cream, from setting up in the city.
Food truck operators are lobbying the city council to change this, a move which many brick-and-mortar restaurants oppose.
Members of the Downtown Akron Partnership are among those who have raised concerns about the impact the trucks would have on “invested restaurants” should the trucks be licensed to operate in direct competition with them.
“In the past, we have invited food trucks into the downtown area for special events and to enhance areas of town that lack in grab-and-go food options,” said Suzanne Graham, president of the Downtown Akron Partnership. “We’ve coordinated with local business owners who invited them onto their private property.”
However, she said, “trucks operating in the downtown area with no regulation could pose problems for restaurants by consuming valuable parking spaces and skimming business from businesses who need lunch revenue to keep investing in Akron.”
Graham said food trucks have an unfair advantage over brick-and-mortar restaurants because they do not share the same level of community investment. “Restaurants pay more taxes, utilities and employ more people than trucks, all of which provides direct benefit to the local economy,” said Graham. “Food trucks move their itinerant operation from neighborhood to neighborhood, capitalizing from peak business times and events, but not giving back to those communities through the same tax or employee base.”
She said she would also want to see a system set up for regular inspections and licensing.
“We like the vibrancy that food trucks bring,” said Graham, “but we need to find a balance between their presence and sustainability of traditional restaurants.”
Akron Council President Gary Moneypenney said a committee chaired by council member Jeff Fusco was being set up in early July to study the issue. Council member Margo Sommerville will also serve on the committee along with representatives from the interested parties.
“The issue won’t be decided overnight,” said Moneypenney. “Given our efforts to revitalize the downtown area, there is hesitation to let anything come into the city that could threaten the investments we’ve made.
“This is an issue that many cities are facing,” said Moneypenney. “The committee will investigate the effects that food trucks have had on cities of our size, as well as smaller and larger ones.”
“The law keeping us out of Akron is antiquated and was meant for when people were selling items out of the trunk of their vehicles,” said Judy.
“I am not trying to take over anyone’s business,” said Neel. “What I am offering is a place where workers who often have a short time for lunch can grab a healthy sandwich, or perhaps grab something for dinner before heading to one of the clubs for drinks.”
Neel said contrary to popular opinion he does have overhead costs, and while he may not pay property taxes, he does have to pay for a county Mobile Food License as well as a registration fee for each city that requires one. “These fees range from $30 to $200,” said Neel.
“The truck is inspected every time we go some place new,” said Judy. “Brick-and-mortar restaurants are inspected much less frequently.”
“I think the issue will eventually get resolved in our favor,” said Judy. “I just hope it works out sooner rather than later. I would hate to see this drag on for two years.”