Belmont Embraces New Neighborhood Food Truck Program

Belmont MA

10 September, 2020

5:40 PM

Description

FOOD TRUCKS PIVOT FROM THE CITIES TO THE SUBURBS IN RESPONSE TO COVID NEIGHBORHOOD STREATS PROGRAM ARRIVES & THRIVES IN BELMONT FOR WEARY --& HUNGRY - NEIGHBORS BELMONT, MA – With tourism down, offices closed, college students working remotely and urban foot traffic down to a minimum, the hundreds of food trucks in New England had to do something to stay alive. The days of selling 400 lunches on the Greenway have been gone since March. What to do and where to go? So, now the food trucks are rolling to the suburbs where programs like Neighborhood StrEATs in Belmont, Mass have helped keep the trucks alive and brought some welcome culinary diversion to the neighborhoods. “Our initial goal was first and foremost to keep the food truck industry alive,” says Anne-Marie Aigner, founder of Food Truck Festivals of America and Neighborhood StrEATs. “But, with restaurants closed and folks stuck at home and told not to go out, we saw that folks needed help – and a little something new. Even now, as restaurants start to open again, we don’t go out every night. Some nights we cook at home, once in a while we go out, we do take-out – and why not the fun of a food truck or two on your block every once in a while?” “It’s been a lifesaver for us,” says Jerry Dente, owner and operator of Trolley Dogs Food Truck. “Without festivals or concerts or city foot traffic, it has been very, very challenging these past few months. These neighborhood events have kept us in business.” “Having StrEATs bring food trucks to our town has been so much fun and delicious!,” says Stephanie Crement of Belmont, who served as her neighborhood’s Ambassador to get the word out that the trucks were coming. “We love the opportunity to try new foods, and we welcome the change of pace each week! This opportunity gives us an opportunity to support small businesses and to connect with our community!" Neighborhood StrEATs operates in Belmont, Waltham, Newton, Watertown, Ashland, Canton, Plymouth…all over the region. It is a COVID-friendly program, with the trucks sanitized and certified and the truckers and customers masked and gloved. All ordering is done online…no cash or credit cards at the truck. It is basically takeout/pickup from a food truck. “It’s a hyper-local program meant to provide residents with some fun and food and brings the food trucks some welcome revenue,” says Aigner. “It’s the definition of win-win.” www.foodtruckfestivalsofamerica.com/streats To request a truck for your neighborhood visit www.foodtruckfestivalsofamerica.com/streats and complete the Request a Truck form. Easy – and free. # # #