Food trucks sell out on opening day at Greene Square

CEDAR RAPIDS - For nearly three hours on Friday, a long line formed outside the Keepin Up With the Jones's food truck parked outside Greene Square in downtown Cedar Rapids.

Owner Charles Jones said he specializes in American comfort food and Southern barbecue and was not expecting such a big turnout on opening day of a new Friday food truck promotion being organized by the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance.

'It was awesome,” said Jones, who has operated his food truck since 2011. 'We sold out everything we had. It really shows that the community is supporting us.”

Keepin Up With the Jones's was one of five food trucks parked along Third Avenue SE from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday as part of the promotion that continues each Friday through Sept. 29, said Casey Prince, downtown executive director for the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance.

'It was pretty amazing,” said Prince of Friday's turnout. 'We were blessed to have good weather. More people showed up than the trucks anticipated and I think that's the best problem to have because we can address that.”

Prince said at least two trucks ran out of food on Friday.

'They told me that in all their time coming to downtown Cedar Rapids that had never happened before,” he added.

Prince said he estimates nine food trucks will be at Greene Square on July 14.

'I didn't even make it back to my desk ... when another vendor, who we hadn't thought of, called and said he was interested. So, the word is spreading,” he said.

Friday marked the second day this week that food trucks made their way to downtown Cedar Rapids. As part of another new promotion, food trucks are parking in front of NewBo City Market from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Jones said opening day of that promotion was equally successful.

Beyond Greene Square on Friday, Prince said he received feedback from other downtown eateries that saw an increase in lunchtime customers.

'What made my heart warm, caring about downtown as much as I do, people just continued their stroll and found other lunch spots. I heard from four other lunch spots that normally don't have lines, they had lines today,” he said.

Those interested in setting up a truck at Greene Square should contact Prince at cprince@cedarrapids.org or (319) 730-1427. Those interested in NewBo should contact Taylor Bergen at (319) 540-2626 or taylor@newbocitymarket.org.