Food Trucks Coming Downtown

The Jax Truckies are pleased to announce that Downtown Jacksonville will now boast two legal locations where food trucks will operate five days a week. On Monday July 23rd, award-winning On The Fly food truck began operating at a permanent location on a private parking lot at the corner of Jefferson and Adams Street near the new Duval County Courthouse. Beginning Monday August 6th, a food truck will rotate daily at a municipally-owned parking lot at the corner of Forsyth and Main Streets near 11East and CoWork Jax. Follow the Jax Truckies on Facebook (www.facebook.com/JaxTruckies) or on Twitter (@JaxTruckies) to find out which trucks will operate from this lot daily.

On Monday July 23rd, award-winning On The Fly food truck began operating at a permanent location on a private parking lot at the corner of Jefferson and Adams Street near the new Duval County Courthouse.



Starting Monday August 6th, a food truck will rotate daily at a municipally-owned parking lot at the corner of Forsyth and Main Streets near 11East and CoWork Jax.


An auspicious start:

In November of 2010 Jacksonville food truck pioneers Drew and Curt Cavins opened Bus’In Your Chops, which acted as a mobile extension of their two popular Riverside restaurants Mossfire Grill and O’Brothers Irish Pub.  Facing constant harassment from local officials, the brothers sold their food truck operation six months later and the bus went South to a municipality that welcomed the kinds of pedestrian activity and small business creation food trucks stimulated.  One year after Keith Waller opened Jacksonville’s second food truck Monroes On The Go, an extension of the busy brick and mortar Monroes Smokehouse BBQ, the Jax Truckies organized Jacksonville’s first food truck championship at Bold City Brewery.

The response from both consumers seeking and commercial property owners who look to use food trucks to jumpstart commerce has been nothing short of phenomenal.  Restaurants, both mobile and stationery, add to an area’s unique culture.  The Jax Truckies Facebook page boasts over 2,000 followers and foodies crisscross the city to sample the gourmet fare these talented chefs prepare daily.



Today, more than 24 food trucks operate in Northeast Florida.  Despite the popularity of these mobile restaurants, restrictions still remain.  Restrictive zoning classifications currently prohibit food trucks from operating within the entertainment district along Bay Street.  Nightclub and bar owners along this stretch of downtown could benefit from the amenities and foot traffic food trucks can add to the area.  In Jacksonville Beach, food trucks cannot operate on public nor private property.  The Jacksonville Beach Planning Department is in the process of preparing draft legislation to present to City Council within 45 days.  

Diverse dining options, whether mobile or stationery, add to an area’s unique culture.  For downtown to become a vibrant destination, allowing for the organic growth of creative small businesses will prove to be the path that will make this goal a reality.


On Monday July 23rd, award-winning On The Fly food truck began operating at a permanent location on a private parking lot at the corner of Jefferson and Adams Street near the new Duval County Courthouse.  Beginning Monday August 6th, a food truck will rotate daily at a municipally-owned parking lot at the corner of Forsyth and Main Streets near 11East and CoWork Jax.

Follow the Jax Truckies on Facebook, or on Twitter (@JaxTruckies) to find out which trucks will operate from this lot daily.

Article by Mike Field