Toronto begins cracking down on "illegal" food trucks

Food Cabbie, a popular food truck operating near George Brown College, has been given a verbal warning by the City of Toronto to cease operations by the end of the month. The turn of events is the result of a rather obscure bylaw that states, "Refreshment vehicles cannot park or operate in a public or private parking lot". It's all the more surprising because back in August The City issued them a permit to operate in the parking lot near Mutual and Queen Street East where they've been dishing up pulled-pork sandwiches, Philly cheese steaks and breakfast burritos to hungry students and workers in the area.

The popularity of food trucks has been on the rise in Toronto for the past year and this represents yet another setback in the ongoing efforts of many to improve the quality of Toronto's street food offerings. Luckily, Food Cabbie doesn't plan on giving up without a fight,

So far they have started an online petition in hopes that the bylaw will be altered so that food trucks like theirs can park on private parking lots if the landlord gives them approval. Otherwise, the withstanding bylaw all but guarantees that food trucks won't be able to park anywhere this side of Hamilton.

Having run a successful food truck (with plenty of media attention I should add) since the summer, the couple is confounded about the situation they now find themselves in.

"Toronto is a world class city but the way their by laws are and the way their licensing department works is very confusing." said Spiros. Regardess of the warning from the City, the couple plans on staying put for now.

Photo by Jesse Milns