Downtown Buda’s first dedicated food truck park is now open for business.
For Greg Henry, owner of Cambria and Jordan’s Rail Switch as well as Willie’s Joint, the idea of adding a food truck park stemmed from wanting to provide a new way for people to dine in Buda.
With the food truck industry exploding in Austin, Henry wanted to share that success with Buda.
“I eat in downtown a few days out of the week because I try to eat and spend local. I want people to see what we’re doing as a way to bring more options to the city.”
–Greg Henry, Buda restauranteur
“I eat in downtown a few days out of the week because I try to eat and spend local,” Henry said. “I want people to see what we’re doing as a way to bring more options to the city.”
The park currently houses two food trucks and is looking to double that in the next few months.
Henry wants to diversify his park by adding cultural cuisine to the last two slots. The goal, he said, is to try to get Italian or Indian food to his park.
According to The Statistics Portal, the value of the U.S. food truck industry increased to $856.7 million and is forecasted to increase by another $140 million by 2020.
In Hays County, food trucks can be seen in San Marcos, Wimberley, Dripping Springs and now Buda.
“The food park fits with the city’s vision for downtown, as it adds dining and entertainment options while being compatible with our downtown area,” said Micah Grau, Buda assistant city manager. “It provides a convenient dining option in a location that can be reached by foot from the rest of Downtown and City Park.”
Grau said food trucks are conditionally permitted in the downtown area, which is what he believes is a reflection of the city’s support for the business if developed properly.
Henry said working with the city for the permits for the park was seamless, citing that everyone at city hall was supportive of the business idea for downtown.
As a father of two young girls, Henry is using his businesses to set an example for his children.
“The business is named after my two daughters that I am learning how to raise them in the business world,” Henry said. “I named it after my kids and I eventually want to hand it over to them.”
