Every now and then the city council under duress from the locals considers allowing food trucks in Aspen. This came up at a recent town council meeting and the town council in their most excellent business wisdom decided to ask the local restaurants to vote on whether they would like to have their restaurants have food trucks managed and owned by themselves in front of their restaurants. Pretty much every restaurant voted NO. Uh ok where to start.
In most cities food trucks are not associated with a restaurant little less parked in front of their restaurant. That sounds stupid, although a creative business guy like myself would suggest its another channel to sell and probably the $8 steak tacos you could sell in front of 316 steak house would not compete with the same customer who is spending $75 on a cowboy steak (just the steak mind you that doesn't include taxes, or tip or veg or potato ---I guess a glass of water is included, but no sauce).
But what if the town council decided to let other food providers not the existing restaurants open food trucks in town and what if our existing restaurants couldn't compete and went out of business------ohhhh what happens then.
My guess is that if food trucks crush the local restaurant business (which really I don't think is likely see above) then land lords might find that they don't get their rents paid. And what happens if land lords can't find anyone to rent restaurant space at high rents? Then they lower their rents (or open a 3rd Gucci store).
My view is more competition would be a good thing. Local restaurants are for anyone but locals. I know I have mentioned this before but the White House french dip sandwich is now close to $30 after tax and tip. No drink. No fries or even slaw. Just a not very big but pretty tasty french dip sandwich at a bar is $30.
I don't hate restaurant owners. My goal is not to put them out of business, but it would be awesome if people earning less than 7 figures a year could afford to eat in Aspen every now and then. The best way to make that happen is to increase competition in the restaurant space and if that winds up pressuring land lords to lower rents; well I don't think anyone in town will cry for Mark Hunt.
Interestingly the only member of the city council who saw how back ass stupid their approach was was Skippy Mesiro. When Skippy is the only person in the room who can see clearly ya know you have jumped the shark.
Interestingly housing in the 'lower end' of the market continues to be well bid. But stuff over $10 million is starting to sit. Seems like the smart ultra wealthy got in early, bought what they want and are done. The folks with average homes in average locations are continuing to have champagne dreams, but I can't see how real estate doesn't implode at some point. There are only so many people who can afford a $200-$300 a head meal at 316 or $5m for an average 3.5k square foot home in snowmass village surrounded by 500 similar houses.
menu at 316--note the steak doesn't even come with sauce (that is extra)
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