Restaurants in Indianapolis: Openings and closings so far in 2024
Want to know which restaurants in the Indianapolis area opened and closed in 2024? Take a look at some of the establishments that made the list.
The owner of a popular hot dog stand has received over $5,700 in GoFundMe donations to purchase a food truck after he says he was reported to the health department for using unapproved ingredients.
Abacuc Garcia, owner of Garcia’s Hot Dogs, has been selling hot dogs from a stand on the corner of 16th Street and Emerson Avenue in Indianapolis for 13 years.
He said a county representative called him Friday and told him he was not allowed to have mayonnaise, corn and a certain cheese ingredient in his shopping cart and that additional ingredients would be eliminated from his business model.
“You can’t sell tomatoes, onions, grilled onions, lettuce or sauerkraut,” a health official told him. “The only things allowed are jalapenos, banana peppers, Chicago peppers and relish.”
Garcia told IndyStar that a new food truck would help him keep perishable goods properly refrigerated.
Garcia received notice back in 2022 that his offerings had been expanded beyond what was approved for his hot dog stand.
“Raw bacon cooked to order is not allowed. Fresh pico de gallo, chopped tomatoes, chopped onions and chopped jalapenos are not allowed,” inspectors wrote.
The Marion County Health Department confirmed it spoke with the owner of Garcia’s Hot Dogs on Friday about the food truck’s growing menu and the need for a larger mobile unit to accommodate it.
“The code requires that mobile food operations be housed in a mobile unit, whether it is a food truck or a food cart,” said Curt Brantingham, a spokesman for the MCPHD. “Growth often requires more space to operate within the code. … The owner indicated he plans to acquire a food truck.”
The food truck was also charged in May with “operating without a license” and “improper glove changing.” MCPHD also cited Garcia for using sanitary water with zero ppm bleach.
This month’s call for help comes after Garcia started a GoFundMe campaign in 2018 with donations to help purchase a food truck and obtain a business license after a visit from a county inspector.
“I thought, ‘OK, it’s time to get a real car and a license,'” he told IndyStar in 2018.
He received $2,313 from the 2018 campaign – not enough to buy a truck. In a pool interview with reporters on Monday, Garcia said he had about $37,000 saved, with $10,000 coming from “raised” money.
Garcia said he needed more to get a truck.
“I don’t have all the money,” he said Monday. “So I’m asking the community and Indianapolis to help me raise the money to make my dream come true.”
His 2024 GoFundMe campaign states that the cost of a used food truck that would pass inspections is “approximately $25,000.” His goal for the campaign is $10,000.
Garcia told IndyStar he was offered a donation in the form of a used food truck, but he needs to look at the truck before changing his campaign or notifying his donors.
