By Cecilia Nasmith
There will be something new on the beach at Victoria Park this summer – two food trucks set up on the concrete courtyard area immediately west of the restrooms.
At Monday's committee-of-the-whole meeting, Cobourg council approved the bids submitted by two separate vendors, K an A Personal Touch Catering and Hot Diggidy Dog, for a three-year term with an option to renew for two additional years.
Councillor Nicole Beatty asked Director of Community Services Brian Geerts if the courtyard has enough space for two food trucks.
“We anticipated two or three would fit comfortably, with some space for picnic tables and free traffic movement,” Geerts said.
“For sure, we will have ample room.”
Beatty wondered if there might be room for three. Geerts said the contracts being awarded were non-exclusive so this might be considered in the future.
Beatty also wondered if this meant the end of the courtyard's availability for the kind of special events that had been held there in the past, such as the Cobourg Highland Games patio held there last year as a fundraiser.
Geerts said the vendors had the right to have their equipment set up there through mid-October.
“That does not preclude sharing of the space,” he added.
“They are not entitled to the entire courtyard. We will look into this, case by case, through the events process.”
Geerts described the food from these two vendors as “entertainment-style food.” Options will tend more to fast food than healthy eating, he said, though there will be some vegetarian and vegan options.
