LYNDHURST, Ohio – Although many physical stores struggled last year, Andre Wheeler saw the pandemic as an opportunity.
“Because people can’t go to restaurants,” he said.
He opened his food truck, Stix and Buns, in June 2020.
“The food truck, when I started it, is doing exceptionally well,” said Wheeler.
Since June, Wheeler has been parking that truck in Lyndhurst, on Mayfield Road, across the hall from his wife Edith Donaldson-Wheeler.
“I think it’s important to recognize that he is on private property,” said Donaldson-Wheeler. “It is parked in front of my company and has been beneficial during the pandemic.”
But in January, the city passed a law limiting when and where food trucks can operate.
“At the gate, he says that you can only operate your food truck one day a week, well, how can any company survive after one day a week?” he asked. “Now, as I have been operating for the past few months, a law needs to be implemented to practically close me.”
He said he was operating under Cuyahoga County decree because the city of Lyndhurst did not have one. But the Wheelers feel they are targets of this new city law.
“I think some residents just don’t want a trailer with a black man in the front seated on Mayfield Road,” said Donaldson-Wheeler.
Lyndhurst Mayor Patrick Ward said the decree is simply about creating a city-wide regulation. He said that while Stix and Buns is owned by Donaldson-Wheeler, it is a property that is shared with other companies.
“I know his wife pays the rent for one building and another, but so do all the other businesses out there,” said Ward. “This gives them the same rights and expectations for parking and visibility.”
Ward said it was time for the city to have a food truck ordinance.
“What is the interaction between the potential customer and vehicle traffic, especially in a square where you only have one parking line here, one parking lane here in a lane in the middle?” he said.
The concierge allows a food truck to run only 1 day a week, unless it is a city event, it also does not allow a food truck to operate on public or private property while it is open to normal traffic, food trucks cannot be parked during the night.
“It has nothing to do with anything other than the need to protect the health, safety and well-being of our residents and the general public,” said Ward.
Wheeler said he did everything for the book.
“It is very frustrating, especially after putting $ 60,000 into this truck. I just want to do things the right way and make a living for my family, ”said Wheeler. “We are not a problem for the community at all, we only bring profit and revenue here.”
He feels it is a way to get him out of there.
“For them to kick me out, it’s disheartening,” he said.
Andre’s wife, Edith, echoed his sentiment.
“Any traffic promotes business, so if you’re coming to buy food, you can stop at the supermarket, you’re coming to get food and you can stop for ice cream. Let’s be realistic, business helps business, ”she said.