Flexibility Ahead: Navigating Wilkes-Barre’s Evolving Food Truck Regulations

WILKES-BARRE — The City Council is working on a new food truck ordinance. While it’s a good start, members believe it can still be improved.

At a council meeting on February 27, 2025, they voted 3-1 to adopt the ordinance on first reading, but some members raised concerns about certain rules. One key issue was the operating hours for food trucks. Initially, the hours were set from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. However, after discussions, most council members agreed to extend these hours to 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Jaycer Castillo, who runs the Carne & Queso food trailer, shared that about 30% of his sales occur after 11 p.m. Many of his customers are college students, taxi drivers, and night-shift workers. He mentioned that he has never faced any problems after this hour.

Conversely, resident James Zenex expressed concern over allowing food trucks to operate until 2 a.m., calling it “ridiculous.” Councilman Mike Belusko, who voted against the ordinance, echoed similar worries, suggesting that serving late-night crowds might not be necessary.

During the discussions, Zenex raised a question about how far food trucks could operate into residential areas. Councilwoman Jessica McClay, who researched food truck rules from other cities before drafting this ordinance, noted that currently, none of the 15 food trucks in Wilkes-Barre sit close to homes. They mainly operate on commercial properties.

However, McClay acknowledged that adjustments could be made if neighborhood issues arise. She also admitted they could consider further restrictions, especially in residential areas.

Christian Krupsha, interested in investing in a food truck, shared his perspective. He pointed out the growing number of warehouses in the area, with many workers finishing late at night. He argued that many people, including himself, don’t want to cook when they get home after a long shift. He felt the 2 a.m. limit gave unfair advantages to traditional restaurants, which can operate longer hours.

Krupsha also thought that the distance requirement restricting food trucks from parking near brick-and-mortar restaurants was still too strict, even after council members reduced it from 100 feet to 50 feet. He mentioned that many existing restaurants are closer than this limit.

Additionally, he disagreed with a rule banning food trucks from the downtown retail business district, arguing that customers of both restaurants and food trucks serve different markets.

The ordinance still needs a second vote, which will likely happen at the council’s next meeting on March 13. McClay expressed gratitude to everyone who provided feedback, emphasizing that this is a first-ever attempt at a food truck ordinance. “We recognize it’s a work in progress,” she mentioned. “We can adjust things as we move forward, but we have to start somewhere.”

Originally Published: March 5, 2025 at 2:03 PM EST

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