Howard Hsu loves food, but he also loves his community.
That’s why the owner of the Sweet Auburn Barbecue food truck is opening the Atlanta Food Truck Park & Market next week on a 3-acre space of land -- a former hotel site -- at 1850 Howell Mill Road.
Initially, Hsu and his business partners, sister Anita Hsu and Brian Harvin, were looking for a permanent spot for the Sweet Auburn Barbecue truck. But given the size of the space he found, Hsu realized he needed to expand his idea, which is modeled after the street food scene in Austin and further west.
The result of his entrepreneurial thinking: 10-15 trucks per day – some the same, some different – will be stationed on the property from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. There are plans for breakfast and late-night menus, likely starting on the weekends and with only a handful of trucks, so the operating hours might shift.
The initial lineup of offerings includes Sweet Auburn Barbecue, Yumbii, Honeysuckle Gelato, Champion Cheesesteaks, Happy Belly, Mighty Meatballs and Yum Yum Cupcake. (A full list is available at www.atlantafoodtruckpark.com).
While Atlanta’s food truck scene is seemingly doing robust business, Hsu said appearances can be deceptive. And with trucks costing $50,000-$100,000 and health safety rules requiring commercial kitchens similar to those in restaurants, making a living is a challenge.
“You see lines and you see people congregate, but people don’t realize that these are businesses that people have committed their life savings to. If you want to make money, you have to have a location to sell your product and operate like a restaurant,” he said. “The beautiful thing about this industry is that you’re taking people who have a passion for food and allowing them to start a business as an entrepreneur at a little less cost than it would take to open a full-fledged restaurant. It allows people to use that passion.”
In addition to the primary draw of vittles, Hsu also wants to utilize the spot as a community center and turn half of the green space into a locale for small concerts, movie screenings, a playground and bocce ball court.
The park will host live music on Thursday nights. On weekends starting Saturday, the Howell Mill Farmers Market will be open on the site from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
“We’re trying to make it a first-class site. It’s going to rival anything you see in Austin or on the West Coast," Hsu said. “Atlanta is primed for something like this.”
Event preview
Atlanta Food Truck Park & Market and Howell Mill Farmers Market
Farmers Market opens at 9 a.m. Saturday. Food Truck Park opens 5 p.m. Thursday. 1850 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta. www.atlantafoodtruckpark.com.
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