by Malcolm Butler
According to Joey Lopez, Lincoln Parish residents will soon have another place to eat as the North Village Food Trucks Park is set to open sometime in early September.
Lopez, owner of Lola’s Teriyaki and project manager of the food park, said he’s looking forward to the opening on Labor Day weekend. And he believes the food truck park, combined with the renovated playground and additional entertainment area, will create a family-friendly atmosphere.
“The most important thing for us is the children,” Lopez said. “We want a safe and friendly environment for the children. Now that I’m a father, I want my children to be safe and have a good time too. When the children are happy, the parents are happy too.”
Another example from Karl Malone Properties’ long line is the North Village Food Truck Park, located on East Kentucky Avenue next to the North Village Apartments as well as Black Rifle Coffee Company, 5.11 by Karl Malone, Eskimo’s Frozen Custard & More and the North Village Events Venue.
According to Lopez, the food truck park will consist of eight food vendors. Currently, there are three confirmed vendors: Lola’s Teriyaki, Big Boys Bar-B-Que and Jay’s Wings and Things, and 10 more have expressed interest.
“Mr. Karl (Malone) and I talked about it probably a year and a half ago,” Lopez said. “When I started working at Teriyaki Grill … it was my first love. Covid put a damper on things. A few years later, we were brainstorming and talking about a food truck. We threw a few ideas back and forth.
“We got our first trailer and we had Jon (Bonner’s) trailer as well, and it was just going to be the two of us. But Mr. Karl suggested doing a whole food truck park. I was nervous at first, but also excited. I knew it would be great for families and kids and that it would be an attraction.”
Lopez said after getting the green light, he designed something he felt would fit the property perfectly.
There will be tables in a covered pavilion that, according to Lopez, can accommodate about 80 to 100 customers.
The North Village Food Truck Park will also provide entertainment value. At the back of the Food Truck Park is an existing playground that was built several years ago and was recently renovated and improved to better accommodate foot traffic.
“We came up with the idea of using rubber mulch because the water wasn’t draining properly. There was flooding,” Lopez said. “So we put in new drains. Put down new felt. And mulched it again. Now the kids can come and play even after the rain.”
At the front of the food truck park closest to East Kentucky Avenue, there will be an area for games and other forms of entertainment.
“We’ll have cornhole, horseshoes, picnic tables, and movie and game nights,” Lopez said. “We’ll have a big inflatable screen for movie and football nights. Karaoke. We’ll try to do a little bit of everything.”
Another aspect of the area is the North Village Event Venue, adjacent to Eskimo’s Frozen Custard & More. The space can be used for birthday parties, baby showers, business meetings and other such events. For more information on renting the space, individuals should contact Kadee Malone at 318-497-3602.
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