Food Truck Thursdays May be Coming to Alpharetta

Alpharetta residents who liked the food truck event in downtown Alpharetta last year should show their support at the City Council meeting tonight, as a proposal would add 11 Thursday night visits by the food trucks. Eighteen of the events would be scheduledfor the year.

The city's Special Events manager, Kim Dodson, said Alpharetta would partner with Fork In the Road to save $2,450 for each event. The cost for a single food truck event to the city would be $3,352, for a total of $44,100 for 18 events.

The city plans to model its events after Smyrna's successful "Smyrna Food Truck Tuesdays. Each event would include food trucks offering varing cuisine each week with music and beverages. Incorporated into the events would be different themes that may include a holiday or engaging element to offer variations. The community would come downtown from spring to fall for an Alpharetta street party.

Dodson said in her report that with 28 food truck visits planned for 2014, the cost would rise to $93,856 for the year.

Major cost components include: advertising, staff, safety (e.g. cones, barricades, message boards, etc.), rental/setup/breakdown of the sound equipment, tables, chairs, tents, dumpsters, trash cans, port-o-potties, etc.

An option would exist for one restaurant to participate each week along with the food trucks. And Special Events staff  will also work towards participation of downtown businesses and/or sponsors at the event.