Wynwood Food Truck Roundup Cancelled, Brad Knoefler Tattled

By Laine Doss Fri., Mar. 9 2012 at 9:46 AM

Laine Doss

Dim Ssam a Gogo's Richard Hales has cancelled this week's Wynwood roundup.

The Second Saturday Wynwood Artwalk food truck roundup has been cancelled for this month. Short Order learned about the cancellation from organizer/restaurateur Richard Hales, who said that the popular monthly food truck roundup was being shuttered due to a tip off to the City of Miami Zoning Department by another food truck roundup organizer.

According to Hales, the vacant lot that serves as the Wynwood roundup location changed ownership and Hales had to reapply for a temporary event permit. Hales submitted the paperwork about a month ago, and planned to hold the roundup as usual. But then he received a visit from zoning officials at his restaurant, Sakaya Kitchen.

They informed him they received an email of his plans to hold the roundup on Saturday evening and that if he proceeded, inspectors might show up. If they found the roundup was being operated without a permit, truck owners would be issued a warning and the property owner would receive a fine. Hales then decided to call off the roundup, effectively pulling the plug on work for 34 food trucks, 20 crafts vendors, a DJ, and a charity that was going to sell t-shirts.

Hales told Short Order that that kind of revenue loss is detrimental to the truckers who rely on every event in order to make a living. "Times are difficult for everyone. Here you've got about 56 individual businesses who are losing a combined $60-70,000 in revenue for the evening. That hurts everyone involved."

But Hales determined that holding the event wasn't worth taking a chance and incurring the wrath of the city of Miami. "Food truck owners are working with police and the city to do everything legit and legal. We are not rogue. The permitting process is in place, and we'll wait until we're issued the permit."

The informant, by the way, is Brad Knoefler, president of the Omni Parkwest Redevelopment Association. Knoefler, is the organizer of the new Friday evening food truck event at Grand Central Park in Overtown. Short Order spoke with Knoefler, who confirmed that he sent an email to the city's zoning department.

"Every email that I send to the government is public record, so yes, I did send an email," he said. As president of a community organization, Knoefler said he's informed of all special event permits that are pulled. When he noticed that a permit wasn't pulled for the Wynwood roundup, he sent the email. Knoefler said that he was concerned about fires and emergencies at the Wynwood site. "I want to legitimize food trucks in Miami," he told Short Order, "but there are life safety issues in play here."

Knofler said that he has a three-year permit to hold special events at Grand Central Park and plans to hold various fundraisers, including tonight's food truck roundup, which comes with a suggested $5 donation for attendees.

It seems, though, that his fundraiser might also be cancelled. Food truck owners are pulling out of the event to show solidarity. Knoefler said that while he feels that the park is the best place for food trucks, he'll cancel the event if he has to. "We're a non-profit. We don't really need a roundup, but we're for economic development."

In the meantime, Knoefler feels that everything will work itself out today for both roundups, "Look, maybe the city will give [Hales] an emergency permit. My intent is positive."

Short Order will provide updates regarding the status of the two food truck roundups.

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Wynwood Art District

Wynwood Art District, Miami, FL

Category: General

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Brad Knoefler, Grand Central Park, Richard Hales, Wynwood Food Truckers Meet Up

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Joseph Davis

All this red tape is frustrating.I've been to these and haven't noticed any safety concerns.

Long_Knives_Drawn

what a POS, this Brad guy, all the food trucks should boycot his events! so he can be standing there alone with his dick in his hands.

Dummy

In the fifth graph: wraith should be "wrath"

Mick

ProgressFL is the tattle tale himself, brad. How pathetic.

Auger

Alot of fuss just because they cant set up for one night. I guess the food trucks might have to do the unthinkable, and just park somewhere on the street

YoonkiPark1

Seriously? Some of you are siding with and believing Knoefler's argument that his primary motive was due to public safety? The gathering had proper permits and had been safe. The only issue with the permit is that ownership of the land changed, so they need to merely update the permit. <- Which is, overall, bureaucratic tape. Yes. This violation during the wait for the renewed permit could be a slippery slope in terms of a legal standpoint; however, I doubt anyone in the food scene could care unless another agenda was involved. So, how is the main issue dealing with safety? And how is this some move by Knoefler to legitimize food truck gatherings that have been legitimate for some time now?

Grand Central Park

Please. These food trucks don't pay rent or property taxes and they basically just take business away from legitimate taxpayers.

Brad Knoefler and his team just designed and built a five acre park. In a ghetto. Give him some credit.

Long_Knives_Drawn

I am glad to see you use the word Ghetto so nonchalantly, when describing the neighborlhood your park is in.

Mick

Wow, just wow. I supported your "park" and attempts for redevelopment. Now I see Grand Central and their childish owner just cares about $$. Get yourself a good PR person, quit being a tattle tale and worry about your own business.

choooch

In a city of lawlessness, the food trucks can't slip through the TSA machine??? How am i gonna look at art without ginger brussel sprouts?

Troy N. Thomas

How would a permit change anything as far as safety goes?? each truck has it's own ansul fire system and in the event of a fire would be put out in a matter of second. How would a permit make it safer?? What makes his event any safer?

Closmia

Not every food truck has that system

Donald Thompson

And we shouldn't have to worry about "fires and emergencies" at Brad Knoefler's events? He has policemen and a fire truck on site?

Luis Andre Gazitua

Free the Burger Beast!

Jared Goyette

Short Order will continue to follow Beached Miam's coverage.

Laine Doss

Jared, we were notified of the story from several food truck owners and spent the better part of the evening on the phone with several people.

TruckerBomb

Good coverage on this by Beached Miami:

http://www.beachedmiami.com/20...

Bernz

banana republic shit as usual.

Concernedmiami

Hales had a permit for the event just not one showing the change in lot ownership. This is NOT a safety issue as Mr. Knoefler stated, it is a paperwork issue as the previous poster stated.

facebook-15200107

How about we discuss the actual issues? Like why doesn't Hale have a permit after a month? Why does the city make it such a struggle for food trucks to do business? What motivation would Brad have to get the Wynnwood event shut down? It is in no way in competition, in fact, these events support each other and support the rebuilding of Miami which is the shared goal of us all.

G.Miami

Wait, all this time, the Food Truck vendors have been operating without a permit?! I can't believe the City of Miami didn't crack down on them sooner.

Long_Knives_Drawn

ProgressFL, should change your name to BackwardsFL. they do have permits!!!, we are talking about permits for every specific event, which is stupid to begin with, Each truck has to have multiple permits and inspections independent of any events permits.

Guest

Read the story, the lot changed ownership recently, the permit needs to be reapplied for.

progressFL

Really Miami New Times? You're going to use the word "Tattled" in your headline? The fact that 34 food truck vendors are operating without a permit isn't the story? Give me a break. It's so easy to point the finger at Knoefler. But it's pathetic. Damn straight that an event with that many trucks, selling food & drinks with gas tanks..around families, children, drunks should certainly have a permit. Period. They aren't above the LAW. There a business like everyone else & should operate accordingly. If they're going to pull out of "solidarity" & not attend the GCP event, then they're not very financially smart & it's their loss. I'm sure other vendors who can think clearly ($) will be happy to line up.

ProgressFL

Really Miami New Times? You're going to use the word "Tattled" in your headline? The fact that 34 food truck vendors are operating without a permit isn't the story? Give me a break. It's so easy to point the finger at Knoefler. But it's pathetic. Damn straight that an event with that many trucks, selling food & drinks with gas tanks..around families, children, drunks should certainly have a permit. Period. They aren't above the love. There a business like everyone else & should operate accordingly. If they're going to pull out of "solidarity" & not attend the GCP event, then they're not very financially smart & it's their loss. I'm sure other vendors who can think clearly ($) will be happy to line up.

Lynda

I agree with ProgressFL, as much as I love the food trucks and will miss their attendance tomorrow, it is a very unsafe environment for all involved if, in the worse case scenario, there was an emergency. The worse case possibility out weighs the fact that these businesses will be losing money. It would much worse for Wynwood and Second Saturday if something was to happen.

Angie

The food trucks all have proper licenses. It's is responsibility of Richard who is taking a fee from each truck to make sure the event permits are up to date. Major fail on him

Beast

A classic case of shooting yourself in the foot. You just don't tattle on someone providing an income for you particularly over a paperwork issue. Knoefler's events should be boycotted.