Food Truck Friday returns to Chattanooga

Growing business may lead to food truck festival in 2023

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — If you were on I-24 today with the windows down and smelled something that had your mouth watering, chances are it was the collective aroma coming from this month’s Food Truck Friday.

On the first Friday of the new month, Marlin Road transforms into Food Truck Junction.

It’s all overseen by the Kitchen Incubator of Chattanooga, which has helped some receive their business licenses, health department permits and more to get their food trucks up and running.

“Most of the entrepreneurs that we deal with have never been in a commercial kitchen before,” said Mark Holland, the Kitchen Incubator of Chattanooga Director. “Being able to take them through the process of being their own business owner, operating their own business — it gives you a sense of fulfillment.”

September’s event featured over a dozen different food trucks serving Mexican food, gumbo, wings, and more.

Pat Rowe works with the Incubator, but also runs his own barbecue truck at the monthly lunch.

He sees Food Truck Friday as more than just a celebration of food — it’s also a celebration of life.

“To see people come from different walks of life, to see different races out here, different types of food — it’s amazing,” Rowe said. “You can get American, lemonade, cakes — come check it out. It’s just amazing to see everybody here.”

Holland says the first Food Truck Friday in February 2022 began with only three or four trucks.

It has since grown so that some vendors are turned down due to lack of space.

Rowe believes the event will keep growing and is ready for what’s next.

“We plan on doing this every first Friday year-round and if it grows, we can maybe look at doing two Fridays a month,” Rowe said. “We’ve got people asking if we can do Saturdays. So come out, support this first Friday thing and I tell you if it gets bigger, it’s only going to get better.”