AUBURN, Maine — Food trucks are surging in popularity, but they face some road blocks in Maine. They’re not allowed on some city streets in Portland, Freeport and other cities and towns, but one food truck owner wants to change that.
Randy Smith owns Pinky D’s Poutine. He is licensed to operate his food truck in Lewiston and Auburn, but he said he has to ask permission to park on private property. Auburn doesn’t allow food vendors within 200 feet of a restaurant and Lewiston restricts it to 100 feet.
Smith said he really just wants a chance to change it. “I just want to start a discussion. I told them I didn’t expect it to happen today or tomorrow or even next week. But I’m trying to get a discussion on allowing food trucks in certain areas and trying to work out a system,” Smith said.
“We want to have the diversity, choices in the community like this for vendors. But at the same time, we need to be mindful that these restaurants have made big investments in their facilities. And we want to try to be as fair as we can,” Lewiston Deputy City Administrator Phil Nadeau said.
Food trucks are allowed to operate in certain situations in downtown Portland. Smith said that should also be the case in Auburn.