Jeff Doornbos

“Looking at it from a small business perspective we are just trying to serve the community like the other businesses in the city of Chicago. And at the same time, we’re trying to make sure that we’re abiding by all the rules and regulations put forth by the city.

“We would love to see the 200-foot rule be eliminated so that we can go and serve other areas.  And I think it would help foster business in general.

“We’re on one of the only [downtown] streets in the city of Chicago that falls [outside of] the 200-foot rule. Today, there are 15 food trucks here out of 80 or 90 food trucks that are licensed in the city. These food trucks, the owners, are fighting for these spaces because this real estate is prime real estate in the city.

“They institute things from the [city government] like food truck Fridays over at Daley Plaza and help set some things up at Pioneer Court, but the [200-foot] restriction is making it very hard for small business owners to compete in the city.

“I know any time that you get into politics, there are government officials who want certain things one way and want to have it another, but I think a free competitive market is what is needed, especially now, because it’s hard enough to run a business on tight margins.

“In the one place where paid parking is within that 200-foot rule, we are still spending anywhere between $120 to $200 a day in tickets and also parking to be here.

“It makes it difficult to do business and all we are trying to do is pay bills and make sure we are doing the right thing.”

Jeff Doornbos
Owner, American Glory Food Truck