Another food truck park proposed for Kissimmee near Fun Spot

The growing food truck craze in Central Florida has another potential development with a food truck park proposed steps from Old Town Kissimmee and Fun Spot on the W192 Tourism Corridor.

The project, proposed for 2797 Florida Plaza Blvd., Kissimmee, could include 10 spots for food trucks, plans show. It would also feature a two-story building made with shipping containers that would house bathrooms, office space, storage and room for food preparation, documents state.

The applicant for the project, Edgar Schaked, declined to comment at this point in the process. The nearly 1-acre property has been owned by Schako LLC since 2006. William Sanchez is listed as the project’s engineer and designer.

As food trucks hold events throughout the region, more food truck parks are popping up in the area. Across Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway from Old Town Kissimmee, Visitors Flea Market has a food truck destination called World Food Trucks. Its website lists nearly three dozen trucks.

In Orlando, food truck park À La Cart opened in Orlando’s Milk District in 2018. That park features trucks Chicken Fire, Steak It Easy, SwedeDish, PokeKai and Dulce Pecado.

Food truck parks have been around for a while on the west coast, said Jonathan Judy, a chef and associate instructor at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management.

Variety and creativity are attracting people to food trucks and customers have started to associate trucks with high quality products, Judy said.

“I think it’s just a way for people to have a fun way to eat informally, not tremendously expensive, but the trucks have a tendency to have creative product,” he said.

Near the attractions in Kissimmee, the food trucks offer a “way for people to eat creative and inexpensive food on the go," Judy said.

“It’s convenient,” he said.

From the business side, the trucks offer a cheaper way to get into the business than a brick-and-mortar restaurant, Judy said.

“Food trucks seem to be the craze,” said Christina Morris, executive director of the W192 Development Authority.

The proposed park would be in the entertainment section of the W192 corridor.

“I think it just gives the visitors more options, food options and experiences in that particular area and enhances that whole entertainment district," Morris said.

afuller@orlandosentinel.com