INDIANAPOLIS — Abacuc Garcia has sold his namesake hot dogs from a food truck on the corner of 16th and Emerson for 14 years. Now he’s rushing to buy a food truck because the menu may be too big for his cart.
WRTV
Garcia said the Marion County Health Department spoke to him on Friday after concerns were raised that he put corn on one of his hot dogs.
WRTV
“I explained to him, ‘I was trying to get more products into my store to make more money because I have to feed my family and pay my bills,'” Garcia told WRTV. “He said, ‘We don’t allow that in the hot dog stands. If you want something special in your store, you have to buy a food truck.'”
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Legislators want to standardize standards for food trucks
There are different regulations for food trucks and snack carts in Marion County, primarily because a food truck is much smaller than a snack cart.
“The smaller the restaurant or cart, the safer you can work with a small amount of food,” said Janelle Kaufman of the Marion County Health Department. “Everything has to be kept in there, with proper refrigeration and heating. There are just some limitations based on size.”
WRTV
Garcia removed the corn sauce hot dog from the menu and the health department said there are currently no violations at Garcia’s Hot Dogs.
WRTV
Garcia is now trying to raise $10,000 so he can set up a food truck at the corner of 16th and Emerson and keep the food truck there.
“There’s something special about this corner that I can’t describe,” Garcia said. “I feel the love.”
