Food Trucks Expand To Philly Suburbs

Only a few years ago, customers would drive all the way to college campuses in West Philadelphia or the hip area of Northern Liberties to indulge in gourmet food trucks, but times have changed since then. More and more entrepreneurs are starting to realize that the outskirts of Philly is a hot spot for people who have the cash and stomach for high-end food trucks.

An increased number of these food trucks have been appearing at suburban festivals and farmers markets. Some of the favorites so far include Sum Pig, Hillbilly BBQ, PJ's Wing Truck, and the Cow and the Curd. George Bieber, owner of the Sunflower Truck Stop, which serves gourmet sandwiches like a Green Curry Bacon BLT and Artichoke Grilled Cheese, said that customers saw his truck as something different than "just a hot dog truck." 

Similarly, former fashion model Thais Viggue parks her cupcake truck in West Chester and the Main Line, starting her day in the kitchen at 3am and ending late in the night. Josh Goldstein, a former Four Seasons chef, left his job to open the Pizza Wagon, located in Norristown, where workers call the truck "a big improvement over [the nearby] Wawa."

Last year, Montgomery County licensed a total of 76 food trucks. Every other Friday, the county invites one truck to sell their eats outside the Norristown courthouse as a treat for the workers. "I would say the [food trucks] are growing. You see them everywhere," said health official Pam Lawn.