ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Food trucks operating in Alexandria can now stay open until midnight. The Alexandria City Council voted unanimously Saturday to expand the ordinance that was implemented almost a decade ago.
A staff recommendation originally proposed moving the food truck curfew from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., but the council approved an amendment to push that time back even further, until midnight, with a six hour continuous vending limit.
The original Alexandria City Food Truck Ordinance, stated food trucks can only operate between 7a.m. and 8 p.m. In April, WUSA9 spoke to the owners of Flavor Hive, who called the regulations unfair.
"The 8 p.m. rule has just been the biggest challenge because we have to close down by 8 p.m. but there's people who don't get off of work until 10 p.m.," said Shihan Chowdury.
Chowdury posted a video on Instagram, that got a ton of attention.
Food trucks are only allowed to operate in three public areas in the city. According to the ordinance, even those on private property had to adhere to the 8 p.m. curfew.
In July of 2014, the City of Alexandria launched a food truck pilot program, that included some of the strict regulations, that were implemented to appease those who were concerned about the impacts on things like public safety and other small businesses.
There was "a fear that you'd have food trucks literally setting up in front of their business and that's not something that's facilitated by the ordinance," said Mayor Wilson.
City officials describe the conversations in 2014 about the food truck ordinance as contentious. They say while many of the brick and mortar restaurants weren't completely opposed to the idea, they want limited areas where the food trucks could vend.
"Free the food trucks. I've always thought our ordinance was a little bit too restrictive. Coming from LA, some of the best food I've ever eaten," said Councilmember Canek Aguirre at an April City Council meeting.