This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Food Trucks Have a New First Fridays Home in Venice
A food truck parked at The Brig in Venice in late 2009 (Photo by R.E.˜ via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
When January 7th rolls around next week, food trucks will be rolling back into Venice to serve the First Fridays folk, thanks to a production company who are offering the ousted mobile eateries a spot to park, free from the merchants' and organizers' scrutiny.
Bigfoot Entertainment, a global production company with headquarters in Venice, has come up with a space for the food trucks, who were deemed unwelcome by local business owners and the organizers of the popular First Fridays community event on Abbot Kinney. For December's First Friday event, some trucks who typically pull into a spot there and patrons initiated a boycott because of the chilly reception and prohibitive measures implemented by the Abbot Kinney Merchants Association (AKMA) aimed at curbing food truck traffic.
By making their parking lot available to food trucks, Bigfoot is bridging the tense gap between the AKMA and the food trucks' organizing force, the SoCal Mobile Food Vendors' Association. The business is located off Electric Avenue, which "is bordered on one side by residences, but [SoCalMFVA's Matthew] Geller said that his group is working with Bigfoot to make sure the event is as unobtrusive as possible," reports Venice Patch.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
