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City law prohibits food truck option for Rye Town Park

[dropcap]D[/dropcap]espite interest from multiple food truck concessioners to fill the opening left by Seaside Johnnies’ exit, a citywide provision currently prohibits vehicular vendors from peddling out of Rye Town Park, according to the city manager.

Even with the Rye Town Park Commission recently drawing interest from Westchester’s famed food stand, Walter’s Hot Dogs, which is located in the town of Mamaroneck, Rye City Manager Marcus Serrano told the Review that it’s currently not possible because the city’s current peddling and soliciting restrictions prevent any vendors from operating in public spaces throughout Rye.

The commission’s desire for a food truck operation comes in wake of the owners of Seaside Johnnies, John Ambrose and Sam Chernin, formally declining the commission’s final offer to continue their operation next season. Seaside Johnnies, the current tenant, has been operating out of the park since 2000.

At the moment, the commission does not have a plan in place to offer any food or beverage for parkgoers or patrons of Oakland Beach for the 2017 season.

“I would like to see Rye town’s officials and [their] staff approach the issue with a little more urgency.” – Rye City Mayor Joe Sack

Rye City Councilwoman Julie Killian, a Republican and member of the park commission, said the city of Rye would be willing to grant a temporary exemption to its peddling restrictions to permit a food truck campaign in the park. “If the park commission formally asks [the city of Rye] to consider modifying the provision, it’s something we would consider looking at,” she said.

But, according to Rye Town Supervisor Gary Zuckerman, a Democrat and president of the park commission, until the commission has a feasible and significant offer from a concessionaire, he does not plan to make a formal request to the city to alter its code. “If the commission desires to have a food truck instead of a restaurant for a year, that’s something that can certainly be discussed; I’m open to everything,” he said. “But I’m not prepared to make an open-ended request without knowing who our possible operator will be.”

Katharine Warrington Woodward, a representative of Walter’s, said there were preliminary discussions between the family-owned business and Zuckerman last week, but added there is currently no concrete offer on the table.

Other than providing food and beverage options, a food truck alternative would also help minimize the financial loss of as much as an estimated $200,000 as a result of the absence of Seaside Johnnies.

But with nothing worked out, as of press time, the clock continues to tick toward 2017.

Rye City Mayor Joe Sack, a Republican and member of the park commission, said, “I would like to see Rye town’s officials and [their] staff approach the issue with a little more urgency.”