Welcome to the Mobile Kitchen Help Blog!!
This is very new, but I am sure it will be of great use to many of you who have questions, or need help. Feel free to offer up your best advice, questions, or comments.
Here at California Cart Builder we hope to create a place where mobile food vendors can become a community and help each other.
Elma
(ceo. California Cart Builder) Visit us at www.californiacartbuilder.com
This is very new, but I am sure it will be of great use to many of you who have questions, or need help. Feel free to offer up your best advice, questions, or comments.
Here at California Cart Builder we hope to create a place where mobile food vendors can become a community and help each other.
Elma
(ceo. California Cart Builder) Visit us at www.californiacartbuilder.com
Elma,
ReplyDeletewhat are some things I should look for if I were going to buy a used concession trailer.
What is the largest trailer you can build without using a Semi to pull?
ReplyDeleteHow do I find a location to use a mobile trailer?
ReplyDeleteChef Tom,
ReplyDeletebe very carefull in buying a use dtrailer. Here in California there are new health codes. Often if you find a used Concession Trailer for a great price, it usually means that it will not pass the new codes. Even if it is licensed for the current year in the owners name, once you buy it you will have to re-license it in your name and bring it to new code. Get a guarantee in writing before you make payment that guarantees the unit will pass all codes and standards in your name.
cookin' mama,
ReplyDeleteThe largest trailer you can pull would be a 46' fifth wheel.
Precious,
ReplyDeleteOpportunities abound in the mobile food industry.
Some options are:
Fairs, Festivals, Carnivals, Community Events, Parades, Air Shows, Art Shows, Car Shows, Company Picnics, Parades, Political Rallies, School Events, Childrens' Sporting Events, Drag Races, Ralleys, Farmers Markets, Swap Meets, Flea Markets, Church Events, Commercial Catering, Parties, After Hours at the Nightclubs, Marathons, Triathalons, Tailgate Parties, Rodeos, Auctions, Trade Shows, Concerts, Courthouse Steps, Business district, Manufacturing district, Shopping district, Office district, In front of Building Supply stores, In front of Electronics Stores, Gas Stations, Car Washes, State Parks, Burea of Land Management, Beaches, Lakes, Dunes, ....
You get the idea, there are too many options to name them all.
I purchased a used 2005 Pace America 30 foot mobile kitchen in July. I am here in Northern California. I just had my HCD inspection, and failed. I have invested ALL of my money in this trailer. I am a certified woman/veteran/small disadvantaged business. I will be cooking for a large PG&E construction crew. Who can I contact to come in and do the work that needs to be done to bring this trailer to code or is there a code book out there for mobile concessions in California?I have the California Retail Food Codes and I have the inspection report, I followed them very carefully and hired professionals and still failed. I am at my wits end. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteBig Momma's Cookhouse,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear of your dillema. I just checked out the construction specs of the Pace trailers, and it appears that they are dimensionally unviable for mobile food service. Short of chopping the unit, there isn't much you can do to resolve the HUD issues, and in turn obtain Health Permissions. My best suggestion would be to try to sell the trailer on e-bay, or return it to the person who sold it to you. (They knew it would NOT pass in California!!) Then start over with a reputable manufacturer. I understand that buying new costs more, but nothing costs more than a Concession trailer you can't use.
***If you contact us and send us the report I can maybe give you a better answer. go to www.californiacartbuilder.com you can call us and maybe we can help.
HOW DO I KNOW WHAT SIZE TRAILER I NEED
ReplyDeleteAnonymous,
ReplyDeleteWell it's not so easy... ou can't just pick a size if you have specific equipment you need to produce your product. There are Federal Codes and Standards that will tell you how large the trailer must be to include your equipment. Or you can choose a size and then try to fit your menu around the limitations of that size trailer. If it were me I would make the investment in myself and my products, and get the size to create the cullinary products I want.
In the event you don't have a permit, who polices this activity and how do they find you and what happens if they find you selling food with out a permit?
ReplyDeleteIn california, the health department and sometimes code enforcement polices the mobile kitchens. If you don't have a permit, and have a unit that is not built to code they will confiscate the unit.
ReplyDeleteIn other states they usually give you a citation, you then have to go see a judge. In both cases there will be a fine.
Hello
ReplyDeleteI am needing a mobile drink/food cart thatis certified and maynot be bale ot aofford a custom..I am looking for something used and maybe even 'green' running on diesel/solar..very opne..Iam in intitla stages and just putting it out there thanks you can email me as well cheryltravers@gmail.com this is the first blog I eve rwrote on...yes
The best place to find a used unit would be your local paper, Ebay or Craigs List. If you are in California be very carefull... California changed the food code last year, and all the units built before that usually don't pass new codes. Even if the current owner has current permits doesn't guarantee it will pass. (The current owners are
ReplyDeletegrand-fathered and get a free ride.) As soon as you put the unit in your name you will be required to bring the unit to the new codes.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteCan you give a brief summary of the permits and inspections required to run a mobile kitchens in the streets of Los Angeles. What do I need and who do I need to see in the city to get it.
Thanks very much,
Peter
I am thinking of getting into the mobile food industry. I have my product(s) figured out which are unique and will likely sell well. I am trying to write a simple business plan, but do not know how to go about contacting possible venues and events to find out how much they charge. Is there an average I can expect? Are there A,B, and C
ReplyDelete,etc level events, or some other calibration as to size, etc? Is there a list somewhere of event planners to contact? I was told some events take years to get accepted into. As with any industry, there is probably "lingo" involved. Any "code" words I should know? I know this is a long list of questions, but I can't go forward until I get some answers, and appreciate any help you can give me.
Thanks!
I'm in charge of turning our 40 foot 1981 Crown School Bus into a mobile kichen and seating area for Veterans Green Job camping trips and feed groups of 15 three times a day. These are remote work sites that a trailer would not work. Would your company be interested in building a custom kitchen in our bus?
ReplyDeleteGordon, My name is Mandy and I work for California Cart Builder, and I will be glad to assist you with your bus conversion. You can email me at cacb7@verizon.net.
ReplyDeleteAre you with the Better Business Bureau?
ReplyDeleteTo answer "Anonymous" no we are not with the Better Business Bureau, only because they want to charge us $600.00 a year to be a member. We choose not to incur this cost only to be passed on to the customer. We are however with our local Chamber of Commerce. And we have an excellent reputation. If you want this information please email me at cacb2@verizon.net
ReplyDeleteI would like to know if I can take a mobile FOOD TRUCK to events like festivals, carnivals instead of a trailer. I have never seen a truck before...just trailers.
ReplyDeleteThe reason you have never seen trucks at fiars and festivals is because most don't allow a motorized vehicle type concession unit. If you are interested in any particular fair or festival please call them and ask if they will allow a "truck" type unit. Many have told me that they don't want their event to look like a bunch of lunch trucks. They are particular as to how good their event looks and will want trailers that are done well with colored graphics and signs.
ReplyDeleteYou might be able to do local small street fairs possibly, but be sure to check them out too.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI want to start a mobile fair food business. I have a unique menu that I am confident will sell extremely well. Other than beginning with a business plan I don't even know where to start figuring out what I will need to do to get going. Can you give me any advice on how to start?
Hi. I'm the san fernando valley area and was wondering if you're open to potential customers visiting your warehouse/manufacturing facility preferably on a saturday. I need to talk to someone face-to-face and actually see what you guys do! Thanks,.
ReplyDeleteWe are open Saturdays by appointment only. Please call (951) 245-1114 or (866) 347-1010 to make an appointment. When you come one of our professional design team staff who will discuss your needs and show you what we do. All of the units we do is custom, and we have done some pretty unusual units also.
ReplyDeleteI'm interested in starting my own food truck business. Got a lot of questions but the first couple are, is a food truck considered a professional kitchen and apporved for food prep under the health code. Second I heard that the food truck business can be cut throat and strong arm tactics are sometimes used for the prime locations. Is that a common reality or more of the old wild wild west stuff.
ReplyDeleteYes, a food truck is considered a professional kitchen approved for food prep by health departments. I am sure there is competition for some good locations, but as Coji has proven, if your food is good people will follow you.
ReplyDeleteI have a questions. I bought a Taco Trailer and was told by my county to get a HUD inspection. I contacted HUD and they state they dont do Taco Trailers only Mobil homes and Housing. Please let me know who to contact to get HUD inspeciton.
ReplyDeleteI would reccommend you get back in touch with your health department they can clarify what they meant for you.
ReplyDeleteYour BBQ trailers; propane?
ReplyDeleteHey guys, Im in the process of finishing the restoration of a 1950's trailer into a mobile draft system to pour a drink called kombucha. Quick question if anyone can answer it. Does my Honda generator have to be mounted to my trailer or can I run the trailer with the generator on the ground? Im going to have my California Insignia inspection soon. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi, I'm looking into starting a mobile food business in San Diego and have the idea of a concession trailer , but Im curious to know why there isn't any trailers out here I only see food trucks , I have visited commissaries and haven't see concessions there either so I'm wondering if trailers are permitted in San Diego , if trailers are permitted do they still need to be registered at a commissary? can you please let me know thanks
ReplyDeleteSteve,
ReplyDeleteTrailers are allowed in an Diego County.The reason you don't see many is because of the popularity of Food Trucks. But Trailers are just as lucrative, can go anywhere Food Trucks go, and are actually more efficient, with less cost. They do need to be built by a California State Certified Manufacturer, and must meet all Health codes as well as have a Commissary. Another advantage of trailers is that they can go as large as 53' in length, as trucks only go to 30' including the cab area. Hope this helps.
Hope to see more posts here - great idea for a food truck blog! Would love to hear your insight.
ReplyDelete