The Bacon Truck and a few other popular food trucks will land in Charlestown at three locations this summer as part of Mayor Martin Walsh’s Boston Food Truck program – a program in response to COVID-19 that seeks to locate food truck locations in neighborhoods as downtown locations have fizzled out with tourists gone and workers staying at home.
In Charlestown, the three locations include Doherty Park, Monument Square and the Charlestown Community Center, which will have trucks parked there for service on varying days.
The schedule is as follows:
•Monument/Training Field: Mondays – The Bacon Truck; Tuesdays – Bibim Box; Wednesdays – Teri-Yummy.
•Doherty Playground – Fridays – The Bacon Truck.
•Charlestown Community Center (Track) – Tuesdays – Daddy’s Bonetown Burgers; Fridays – Northeast of the Border.
The Bacon Truck – one of the more popular trucks for years – is based in Charlestown and did yeoman’s work during the COVID-19 lockdowns in donating meals in conjunction with Christ Church Charlestown to elderly residential buildings and to other communities in need. Now, Walsh is looking to help them and other food trucks as they fight to find business as foot traffic patterns have changed citywide.
Walsh announced a summer pilot program for the City of Boston’s Food Truck Program last Friday as a way to support valuable small businesses that have been greatly impacted by COVID-19, as well as provide residents throughout the City’s neighborhoods with additional accessible and safe food options. The program, which will officially began July 17, includes 23 new neighborhood locations such as parks, playgrounds, and public spaces where trucks will vend from noon to 7 p.m. seven days a week.
“Small businesses and restaurants employ our neighbors and add to the vibrancy of our community, but have suffered greatly due to our COVID-19 response,” said Mayor Walsh. “This summer Food Truck pilot will provide additional dining options for residents and visitors across our City, while also adhering to public health guidelines in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.”
While food trucks have been able to operate as “food take-out businesses” throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, Streets Cabinet, and the Inspectional Services Department collaborated to create new spaces in local commercial districts and adapt to changing commuter and workplace conditions.
The City of Boston has waived all site permit fees for this summer pilot. However, all food trucks must be approved to operate, have up-to-date certifications and permits, and are required to continue following all public health guidance by properly marking 6 feet spacing between customers and maintaining social distancing.