Food Trucks on Demand

Move over, ride-hailing companies. Food trucks have been responding to demand in neighborhoods.

1 minute read

February 17, 2021, 8:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Kogi Los Angeles

vesperstock / Shutterstock

Neighborhood visits are offering food trucks in the D.C. region a "rare bright spot during a financially difficult time," according to an article by Nevin Martell.

The example of Kim Gandy, a resident of Silver Spring, Maryland illustrates the concept. Gandy, with the help of some collaborators, sent a survey to a neighborhood listserv to gauge interest in a regular appointment with a D.C. food truck. The interest has been profound on both sides of the equation—residents and food truck operators.

"Between last September and January, Money Muscle BBQ earned almost equal revenue from doing neighborhood visits with their food truck as they did from selling on Uber Eats," reports Martell. "They sell food on the delivery app five days a week, while only booking one or two food truck outings per week."

Arranging regular neighborhood visits by food trucks can be time consuming, however, so another local resident of Silver Spring, Kyley McGeeney, is coaching people who want to bring food trucks to their neighborhoods "by sharing a master vendor list and walking them through every step of the process," according to Martell. The article includes more advice on how to set up food truck events complaint with local regulations. 

Friday, February 12, 2021 in Washington City Paper

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business

Large spinning swing ride at Chicago's Navy Pier.

The Subversive Car-Free Guide to Trump's Great American Road Trip

Car-free ways to access Chicagoland’s best tourist attractions.

July 3 - Streetsblog Chicago

Aerial view of downtown San Antonio, Texas at night with rotating Tower of the Americas in foreground.

San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion

The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.

July 3 - Governing