Businesses, locals react to Monterey’s new food truck rules

“It gives us another opportunity to do business and be in front of the people of Monterey,” said Teri Takikawa who owns Kuki’s Food Truck as he expressed excitement about the 3-2 vote by city council Tuesday night.

But other brick and mortar restaurant owners aren’t too happy with the city’s decision to allow food trucks at places in the city like Cannery Row.

“I can’t believe the city is going to allow food trucks down here, which obviously are going to congest the street even further,” said Cooper’s Pub owner John Eales.

“Young families, strollers crossing, it’s really a very dangerous environment with the addition of the food trucks,” Eales continued.

Cassidy Weiss lives in Monterey and says she doesn’t eat at food trucks but it would offer more variety, however, “…If it takes away from the businesses already here then I think that we have a lot of great options already.”

Kuki’s serves a variety of Asian inspired food and the Takikawa says they do not plan on parking in front of any restaurants.

“The plan is to serve businesses at locations that are without food that don’t have a whole lot of restaurants around them like Ryan Ranch.”

The new ordinance will allow food truck vendors to park at a specific location for only one hour increments.