By Betsy Finklea
A local restaurant owner made remarks about how food trucks at Eats on the Street affect her business at the last Dillon City Council meeting.
Stephanie Mitchell, owner of The Kitchen, said she spoke with multiple business owners, and they were all concerned about how food trucks affect their business on the monthly Eats on the Street, which takes place on the second Wednesday from March through July.
She said on the day of the March food truck event they had only 10 percent of the business that they normally have on that day.
She said it was not even enough to make payroll for her two employees so “it affects us greatly.” She said she was going to read from a post that she made on social media; however, prior to doing that she said she spoke with Southern Fried, and they are in the same situation.
Mitchell said food trucks any day of the week hurt her business tremendously. She posted the following on social media: “I have no issue with food trucks however what I have issues with is the City of Dillon, SC – Government advertising and hosting them freely in our historic district. They will NEVER contribute to the city economy as much as our brick and mortar/physical stores/eateries. For example they don’t pay as much for their business licenses and purely by statistics they don’t pay as much in sales taxes or hot meals taxes because they aren’t here 6 or 7 days per week. (That is even if they pay those taxes). Brick and mortar businesses usually employ multiple local employees who also spend their own money here where they live. We also pay property taxes for our local businesses and the equipment that we use in them. The food trucks have been established here over the last 4 years. I’m glad they are here for a variety of eating options, but they also have their favorite spots to park elsewhere outside of the historic district. YOU WILL NEVER BUILD A THRIVING DOWNTOWN WITHOUT BRICK AND MORTAR RESTAURANTS!!”
She concluded saying your brick and mortar restaurants “all suffer on food truck day.”
Local Restaurant Owner Talks To City Council About How Food Truck Day Affects Her Business
