P&Z approves food truck court at King's Grocery

The Wichita Falls Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved a request to allow a food truck in the parking lot of King’s Grocery store on 9th Street at their meeting Wednesday afternoon.

King’s co-owner Franklin Parikh wants to use about 21 parking spaces for an outdoor food court on the north side of the business. This would maintain the 96 spaces for the original store, meeting city requirements for one space per 200 square-feet of gross floor area.

Parikh told the commission there are about 400 customers per day at the grocery store. He said the store does not provide prepared, ready-to-eat food. Many of his customers, he said, do not drive and have few options for hot, quick meals. This food court will fulfill that need for this part of town.

P&Z member Matt Prouty said the food court idea was well received by the commission. He said the planned area could hold up to 12 food trucks, but there will probably not be that many parked there on a regular basis.

For bigger food truck events, outside vendors could come in with a temporary permit.

Prouty said the owner’s plan to start small, see if the food court is a match for the neighborhood and, hopefully, grow from there.

As the popularity of food trucks grows, the city has adapted some ordinances and regulations. A previous ordinance allowed individual food trucks, but was adapted a couple years ago to allow food truck courts where two or more trucks could park and serve food. The first food truck court in the city was The Yard, downtown at 703 Ohio Ave.

In October, the city also held its second annual Food Truck Challenge and Festival, a fundraising event by the Downtown Lions Club, that attracted hundreds of visitors.

Per city requirements, the idea was proposed to 22 surrounding property parcels. Of the notifications, two responded in favor of the idea and one was opposed.

The recommendation from P&Z will go before the city council for final approval at a future meeting.