Food truck plans up ‘in smoke’ over Carolina Beach ordinance

CAROLINA BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Owning and operating a food truck in Carolina Beach has restrictions one business owner would like to see changed.

Serving food on wheels may not be as easy as one Carolina Beach business owner had hoped.

“I may not have gotten it when I got it. I may have put it off until there was a better understanding of the ordinances,” owner of Holy Smoke (that’s) BBQ Mark Wilson said.

Wilson said he recently bought a mobile unit to use as a food truck to take his smoked bbq on the road.

The idea to generate more revenue during the off-season until an obstacle in the road put the brakes on his big plans.

“Ya know you’re told that there’s ordinances in place to protect local businesses but I don’t feel protected. I feel that I’m being strangled probably isn’t the right term, but to some degree or another handcuffed to on what I can do to generate business,” Wilson said.

Wilson planned to park his food truck at a nearby brewery but because of Carolina Beach’s 180 day itinerant merchants limitation he is back in drivers seat.

“You can be there essentially for 6 months, but the idea is you wouldn’t be there permanently,” Town of Carolina Beach Senior Planner Jeremy Hardison said.

In the meantime Wilson has been driving across the bridge. His goal is to bring in more business to not just his restaurant, but to all of the island.

“I just feel like I want to be a good steward to the island. I want to be a good steward to ya know to business in general,” Wilson said.

Right now there are no plans to change the ordinance.

The planning and zoning commission meets every second Thursday of the month. You can attend and speak out if you have questions or concerns.