What’s new at the downtown Redding food truck park opening on Friday

The Park food truck court is nearly ready to open for the season in downtown Redding.

Park developer Todd Franklin said the plan was originally to open with five food trucks and a concert on Saturday, about a month ahead of last year’s opening day.

But with rain now threatening the weekend forecast, Franklin said he moved up opening day at The Park even more, and it will now take place on Friday.”The weather’s so nice we got a little excited this year and wanted to start a little sooner,” said Franklin on Wednesday. “It’s nice to see some blue sky. We might as well get started when we can.”

The Park is also extending its hours this year. It will be open evenings Wednesday through Sunday and has added Sunday brunch hours, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The food truck court at 1552 Placer St. launched in the once-rough Carnegie Park near the railroad tracks seven years ago. The venue features a large performance stage, where dance band HOOK will perform on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Other bands are set to perform during free concerts scheduled through the end of October, said Franklin.

The food truck park is licensed for up to seven restaurants on wheels. Eateries that are there will rotate on any given weekend.

On opening night, there will be five eateries serving meals, including newcomer Bomb Burgers, owned by the family of the owners of Redding’s Roots Juice Bar.

Other food trucks at the site on opening day will include Bobalicious Tea Bar, Tio Nate’s Tacos, The Sum of All Smoke and The Corn Dog Co., which Franklin owns.

“People in general are just ready to be outside and it’s a great place to come, hang out with friends and family and not have to prepare a meal,” Franklin said.

Food trucks on the move in Redding

Nearly 50 food trucks are licensed to operate around Redding, according to the city, and sell everything from crepes and burgers to barbeque.

Food trucks cost less to operate than a physical location, according to the industry. Food Truck Nation estimated in 2022 that it cost between $50,000–$60,000 to start a food truck — less than a third of what it cost to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant at that time.

“I think it’s actually more personality than economy, to be honest,” said Franklin about why he thinks food trucks are popping up.

“A lot of people get tired of having to be somewhere every single day, for all day, and a food truck gives you flexibility to change your office location on any day,” he said. “So you’re able to go find the crowds rather than the crowds having to go find you.”

Some local food truck owners are changing how they operate, Franklin said.

Several of the eateries-on-wheels that cycle through The Park during the summer also have physical restaurant locations, including Anthony’s Mediterranean Bar & Grill and The Golden Fang, a breakfast and lunch spot that opened at the city-owned Benton Airpark in west Redding last year.

A food truck run by Mosaic Restaurant, which has a permanent location near the Redding Sundial Bridge, periodically comes to The Park and has dispatched its restaurant-on-wheels elsewhere to cater events for private groups.

In addition to free concerts by local musicians, Franklin said, The Park will feature entertainment by Redding-area school bands and dance troops.

Michele Chandler covers public safety, dining and whatever else comes up for the Redding Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. Accepts story tips at 530-338-7753 and at mrchandler@gannett.com. Please support our entire newsroom’s commitment to public service journalism by subscribing today.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Food, music, beer: The Park, Redding’s food truck court is opening