Mobile vendors hurting brick and mortars, says Sylvan Lake business

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Pritchard and his sister Stephanie presented to town council last month to complain about how much promotion is done for food trucks in terms of being mentioned on the posters for events or on social media.

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“We have made a commitment (this week) to pull back the extra promotion of one specific activity within our event advertising,” says Joanne Gaudet, Town communications officer. “We have reviewed that practice and certainly they have some merit in that concern.”

Gaudet also clarified that the Town hasn’t spent any money on food truck advertising this year, though there was some spent in the first year to let people know Food Truck Thursday was actually happening.

Additionally, the Town will offer opportunities for local food and beverage businesses to become involved with special events and receive the same kind of advertising or promotion that food trucks do.

Pritchard isn’t having it, however.

“We invest in our community with physical buildings. I don’t have any positive words to say about it,” he says. “July long weekend used to be massive for us, but now it’s just like any other weekend; and I’m just talking about the retail clothing side of our business.”

Pritchard describes the local restaurant scene on days food trucks are in the area as desolate.

“It’s just unfortunate. Maybe after another business closure or two, the Town will realize they have to start listening to local businesses,” he adds. “My sister has her bachelor of commerce and I’m a power engineer; both are a lot more profitable and viable compared to where things are going on Lakeshore Drive.”

Gaudet admits that while there is a high number of vacant storefronts along Lakeshore Drive, there are several ongoing initiatives to allieviate the problem, including the Main Street facade program and free parking along 50 Avenue.

She also says the Town hopes some mobile vendors may one day be enticed to make the leap into a brick and mortar format in Sylvan Lake.