Reno’s Food Truck Friday returns to Idlewild Park on June 4
Despite closure in 2020 due to COVID-19, the return of Food Truck Friday marks the beginning of summer and a return to post-pandemic normalcy. Louis Bubala speaks to the founder/owner of FTF as well as returning attendees about last year’s cancellation, this year’s return, and what the event means to Reno.
Beginning on June 4, 2021, Food Truck Friday returns to Idlewild park in Reno, Nevada.
The event is free to attend and offers street food, alcoholic beverages and live music.
The event was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19, and guests and organizers have been eagerly awaiting its return.
Steve Schroeder — the founder and owner of Reno Street Food, which runs Food Truck Friday — says that the event’s cancellation had severe implications for both the organizers and vendors. Aside from lack of presence of the community-based event, FTF faced economic and logistical complications.
Schroeder begins working in January each year, so much of the event was planned by the time pandemic restrictions began in March of 2020. Food trucks are a hot commodity during the summer, so by this point Schroeder had them all booked and the event ready to go. He had to refund several vendors and other previously booked services.
“This is my family business. We’re not a non-profit,” said Schroeder; “We were just trying to do everything we could to make it through the year.”
When the cancellation was announced, FTF had 85 vendors signed up. Schroeder says it was hauntingly disheartening to have to turn down and cancel vendors, as some of their livelihoods are largely based upon yearly business and revenue at FTF.
Schroeder felt a frustrating sense of responsibility, despite having no control over guidelines and regulations. To make matters worse, the event’s seasonal status barred it from eligibility to unemployment and the Paycheck Protection Program. Like many other business owners, Schroeder was shocked that his event could be taken away so quickly.
Organizing the event this year was not much easier; frequent changes to COVID-19 guidelines have continually made it difficult for organizers to confirm plans.
“When you do an event, you make a PnL — profit and loss sheet,” said Schroeder. “What are we spending? What are we making? What are the unknowns?” Going into April, Schroeder says FTF still faced several uncertainties.
Initially, FTF was slated to return during only July and August. While updated safety guidelines allowed for the event to potentially reopen in May, Schroeder considered the required restrictions too strict and cost-prohibitive.
Some uncertainty even led into last week, when FTF received the guidelines for a June reopening. At this point, Schroeder feels comfortable with these guidelines and confirmed a return on June 4. He says he actually feels fortunate that FTF isn’t returning until June, as it allows organizers more time to perfect the event and ensure safe conditions.
Although COVID-19 precautions are progressively dispersing nation-wide, the event will still follow guidelines set in place by Governor Steve Sisolak and Washoe County.
Guests can expect a mask mandate, but Schroeder says he doesn’t anticipate social distancing requirements. While some events across the US are requiring proof of vaccination — like San Francisco Giants’ and New York Mets’ games — FTF does not plan to ask for any kind of vaccine passport.
Schroeder states that “we’re here for health and safety,” and recognizes that some people are not yet comfortable returning to social gatherings.
While the whole process has been exhausting for Schroeder, he is beyond excited and grateful for FTF to return to Idlewild Park.
The beloved gathering marks not only the beginning of summer but also a return to post-pandemic normalcy. As federal and state governments continue to ease safety mandates, Schroeder says that FTF’s Facebook presence throughout April was “off the charts” and filled with comments from excited guests.
Jesus Martinez, a Reno resident, is eager to return to event because of its unique food options. While he’s excited to return, Martinez is slightly anxious due to COVID-19. “I would really hope that the event has plenty of hand washing and sanitizer stations,” said Martinez.
Other guests aren’t as hesitant. Petra Gelu, a senior at the University of Nevada, Reno, is fully vaccinated and says she honestly doesn’t care about pandemic restrictions at this point. Gelu sees the event of an ideal pairing of food and quality time with friends.
FTF welcomes all but is “the number one place to meet up” for college students, says Schroeder. This isn’t just a claim; FTF has twice been voted the number one place to meet up in Reno by the Reno News and Review.
Members of the UNR football and basketball teams often frequent the event, sometimes drawing crowds from college students and fans.
The event features over 50 taps — many local — as well as mixed drinks and wine for 21-year-old students and other guests of legal drinking age.
Events like Food Truck Friday are significant as Reno grows as a city and community. Schroeder, who started FTF in 2012, has seen immense growth in both the event’s popularity and the presence of the food truck community.
In 2012, Schroeder says there were only six total food trucks in Reno. He approached the idea of FTF with three goals in mind — to create a new Friday food spot, to base the event locally, and to grow the food truck industry.
According to the Travel Channel, Reno’s Food Truck Friday is now one of the top 10 weekly food truck events in the nation.
Schroeder has been key in making the event possible from its start and feels honored that guests are so highly anticipating its return. He says he’s regularly recognized out and about as “the Mayor of Idlewild” and simply “food truck guy.”
Both Martinez and Gelu see FTF as a great way to highlight small and local Reno businesses. Not only can guests at the event support their community by buying food from local businesses, but the physical proximity of the event allows for dearly-missed abundant social engagement.
To find more information about Food Truck Friday, visit their Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter page.