The Lumberjack

Issue date: 3/5/08 Section: Community

Media Credit: Torrey Hartman

Kalindi Rogers and Erin Slatterly opened up their sushi cart business, Agogo, because for them making sushi is fun. They are the newest of a group of mobile vendors who operate throughout the city of Arcata, Calif.

Lunch trucks aren't new to Humboldt County, but recently their numbers have been growing. The operation of a mobile business has advantages that some individuals in the city are concerned about. But there are also disadvantages to lacking a structure to operate from.

Esteban Gonalez worked three jobs to start his first lunch truck in 1997.

"Instead of the truck supporting me, I support the truck," Gonalez said. He devotes long hours to his business. He works from 6:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. six days a week, and spends six hours on Sundays cleaning. He understands the public has concerns, and a clean truck eases them.

The hours don't keep him from loving his job. He loves Arcata, and the people who come from as far as Blue Lake. "I want to do it until I die," he said.

Rogers said that a love of sushi inspired her to open her business.

For Rogers, the advantages of a mobile business are many. She said less ongoing expense of operating a business is one of the biggest. Mobility allows for it to be taken to festivals, like Humboldt State Sustainable Living, Arts and Music Festival. Also, if her lease were to end the business could move to another location.

Rogers advises others thinking about a mobile business to do a lot of research. It is important to understand the disadvantages. Getting the business ready in the morning means stocking food from a commercial kitchen, and lots of cleaning. Rogers uses a trailer towed by a second vehicle. The trailer must be attached and detached from the vehicle. Gonalez uses a truck that doesn't require as much work, but if the engine blows it can be costly both in lost business and towing charges.

The vegetarian sushi cart is a place that Rogers wants everyone to feel comfortable. Like Gonalez, she understands people may be unsure about getting food from a trailer. She has an advantage in that she bought a concession trailer. The large windows make the food preparation surfaces visible.

Arcata Director of Community Development Larry Oetker is concerned about the health and safety of these mobile lunch trucks. The key issues for the city are access to bathrooms and parking. New regulations covering these issues could begin in August. Among the changes would be a requirement for the vendors to provide access to a restroom.

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