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Summerside waterfront needs more food trucks, says street chef

There could be many more options for lunch on the Summerside waterfront this summer if one food truck owner can convince others to join him. Norman Zeledon owns the Galley food truck, and set up on the waterfront last summer. He wants to do that again this summer, and he'd like to see another half-dozen or so trucks join him.

Has asked for permanent summer site from Port Authority, wants half-dozen or more new trucks

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Norman Zeledon owns the Galley food truck, and would like to return to the Summerside waterfront this summer with another half-dozen or so other trucks. (CBC)

There could be many more options for lunch on the Summerside waterfront this summer if one food truck owner can convince others to join him.

Norman Zeledon owns the Galley food truck, and was serving food from his spot on the waterfront last summer.

He wants to do that again this year, and he'd like to see another half-dozen or so trucks join him.

Zeledon thinks tourists would like more food options in the summer. (CBC)
"It's a dream right, you build it, they will come," said Zeledon. "Maybe they will come."

Zeledon thinks a permanent location on the waterfront for the food trucks is just what the city needs.

He thinks it would be a big draw for tourists.

Zeledon has lived in more than 20 countries, and says this kind of idea isn't new.

"We are behind in comparison to other places," he said. "I mean, there's the big harbour in Singapore, is a whole hangar, like an airplane hangar with about 160 stalls."

The trucks would need access to water, electricity and a picnic area.

The Summerside Port Authority, which owns the land, is considering the idea, and the board is meeting in a couple of weeks to discuss it.

The Galley is parked each day in Summerside's downtown, but will go back to the waterfront for the summer. (CBC)
"Obviously there's a lot of people on the board, and it's a big decision, but hopefully we can make it a reality," said Zeledon.

Loyal food fans

The Galley already has its loyal customers. Zeledon makes almost everything from scratch, from locally sourced ingredients.

There are globally inspired soups, and his burgers and fresh buns.

He's been open all winter in a downtown parking lot.

Michael Reeves is such a fan, he comes five days a week, even on blustery days.

"It's worth it, no problem," Reeves explained.

Another regular, Karen Smith, agreed with Zeledon's plan.

Karen Smith, a Galley customer, thinks that having more food trucks will bring more tourists into the city for lunch. (CBC)
"I think it will bring more tourists to the area," she said. "Especially in the summertime when sometimes there's not a whole lot of places to eat, and they want something quick, so you go to a truck, and you see them everywhere you go in other cities."

Zeledon has even bigger plans if the food truck area takes off.

He'd like to see Summerside's waterfront become a mecca of culture, with food trucks, musicians, farmers and artisans all set up on a regular basis.

With files from Lindsay Carroll

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