If You Love Food Trucks You’ll Love This New Food Truck Court

Food Trucks have become sort of a rage around here. Grand Rapids has Food Truck Friday's at Riverside Park through the summer, and other area locations have special food truck day's such as the Forest Hills Park Association with their Food Truck Tuesday's.

DELICIOUS FOOD TRUCK FOOD

However, there has never been a dedicated location, year round for food trucks. That is until now.

A rendering of the proposed food truck court from when the developer was eyeing 648 Bridge St. (Feb. 23, 2023)

Crain's Business GR reported that developer David Meikle is planning on tearing down a former Chase Bank branch building at 616 Bridge St. NW and building a food truck court. He would call it The Back Lot.

NEW LOCATION FOR "THE BACK LOT"

Meikle owns The Back Lot food truck courts in Petoskey and Charlevoix, and is excited to create the same thing here in Grand Rapids.  He has to get through the planning commission first and is hoping to begin construction soon.

As with his other locations, The Back Lot will be open year-round, and include a courtyard, food hall and beer hall with indoor seating for 207 people and outdoor seating for 109. Meikle says that, of course, you'll stay warm in cold weather with fire pits and heaters.

THE BACK LOT PETOSKEY

I'm very familiar with the Traverse City Food Truck Court. I'm assuming Meikle doesn't own that location, but it seems to have the same amenities as his, and it is tons of fun with always with a great variety of food from the trucks.

TRAVERSE CITY FOOD COURT

There is great historical significance to the location The Back Lot will be built on. It did house a Chase Bank branch, but it goes way back to 1888 when there was a tin shop there. Between 1888 and 1960 it also was a machine shop and gas station.

In addition to The Back Lot, more growth is coming to Bridge Street. A bar and restaurant owner from Jenison is planning to open one in the same block.

Bridge is becoming the second entertainment district in Grand Rapids!