West End Food Park

OK, brutal honesty it is! First off there were only two food trucks and a beer cart for that Grand opening of this park… I wounder what it will look like on a much less important day? Seating was limited to say the least and shaded seating was barley existent. Which you think would have been a big concern beings the temperature was close to 100 degrees out side and the opening of the park was knowingly right at the hottest part of the day. This made the energy between everyone a little edgy as those with shade were afraid to get up and loose there spot and those without shade were hocking the shaded seats just waiting for there chance to scoop one up. Beings there were a bunch of us there to enjoy this new experience the two food trucks were slammed. The lines were to long and the vendors were completely overwhelmed and had a hard time staying organized. One of the food trucks actually broke and had to give everyone back there money, including me. Which it was hard to explain to my 4 year old why we just stood in line, in the blistering heat, for 30 minutes and still couldn’t have his dinner. The beer cart was the best thing going but even they had problems with there cash machine and had to give out a couple free-​bees to keep up with the lines. Needless to say this whole experience was a complete bust and it will take a lot to get me back there.
With that said I feel bad for the food truck industry that planed on using this spot to grow there businesses as I believe this event is a prime example of really bad planning. To start, the grand opening was on the evening of July 3^rd!!! I’d say the only reason there were only two food trucks there was because every other food truck in town was getting ready for whichever events they had planed for the 4^th of July. From there everything went down hill.

Went to the «grand opening» of the West End Food Park. Unfortunately, it was anything but «grand»! Seems like such a great idea and a much needed addition to the Boise food scene… but it appears this was very poorly executed. Two food trucks and a beer truck does NOT equal a food truck park.
I TRULY hope this gets better with time. I will go back only because the food trucks do have good eats and hopefully one day there’ll be more options here at the WEFP.

Here’s what I’m saying: You see the word «Grand» paired with «Opening» and one develops certain expectations. I don’t think those expectations are unreasonable. They certainly aren’t too lofty for one little food park to live up to.
No.
The expectations are two things only:
Firstly, that the event might, in fact, be grand. I’m going to have to say that there is simply no definition in existence of the word «grand» that this opening lived up to. A little more shade in the 100 degree heat would have been grand. Fanned misters might have been more than grand (and by «fanned misters,» I’m referring to a small hose that creates mist that is then fanned onto the boiling diners to their immediate refreshment and relief… not some sort of male geisha, though, they too, might have been grand). A half dozen picnic tables with a couple of umbrellas offering shade to a select few as they dined on hot food from one of the two food trucks in attendance? Not grand, my people. Not by a long shot.
Which brings me to the second expectation: that it actually be an «opening». A food truck park that touts it will be the home of 10 food trucks and a produce stand but for their «GRAND OPENING» offers two food trucks and a lone beer truck? Do I really need to say this? No, people! Absolutely not. Wait until you get the place FILLED to do a grand opening. Then perhaps one of the unfortunate food venders wouldn’t have had a generator blown out in the heat and strain of trying to accommodate half of those in attendance. Then perhaps the lines for each of the trucks wouldn’t have been so long that my friend, and fellow Unilocaler, Julie E, was forced to take a knee in the shade of a food truck in order to avoid passing out from standing in the slow moving line in the (as previously established) dry, mist-​less heat.
No. This was more of an «Abysmal Two-​Tenth Sort-​of Open-​ish» than a Grand Opening.
Perhaps once they get their act together, I’ll venture back and update my review.
Like maybe… I don’t know… autumn?
Bah!

Well… totally bummed that I have to give a bad review. This is a tough one, because how do you rate a food truck park? I think the only fair way to do so, is to rate solely on offerings. The actual food trucks should be reviewed individually.
Unfortunately there isn’t much to review. Not sure what happened, but it’s supposed to be opening night and there were two food trucks and a beer truck. So the variety was definitely lacking. Because there were only two offerings, the line to order and the corresponding wait for food was ridiculous.
Very little seating provided. 6 picnic tables, with umbrellas for shade. This area definitely needs to be ramped up. Not enough shade offered for those who couldn’t fit at the few picnic tables.
The neighborhood is not much to look at, but that’s ok. I give them props for trying to make use of what would otherwise be an empty parking lot.
A few outhouses in the corner, if you are desperate.
Hopefully they are just working out the kinks and I can come back and update. I will probably wait awhile before I consider returning.

Since the West End Food Park (WEFP) is just getting of the ground I’m certain that later I’ll be able to add some stars to my review status. Having just come home from what was touted as the «Grand Opening» though, it’s not easy. I am reviewing the location, the physical plant (if you will). As a cooperative effort of several different food trucks, it would be silly to say I was reviewing the «Food Park» unless I had sampled the wares from each vendor there. The concept of a single space where a number of local food trucks can offer up their eats to the public is a wonderful one, and I truly hope that the folks behind WEFP are able to see that vision to fruition.
I arrived at the location, which is 24^th and Fairview, just after 6pm. There is ample parking. I could see two food trucks in operation, and «The Beer Guys» had just arrived and were setting up. My friends and I were quite fortunate to secure one of just a few picnic tables that had some limited shade. It was over 100 degrees, and the ‘park’ is an open paved lot with no natural sources of shade. One friend stayed at our table with her two young sons, (and endured dirty looks and comments from others wanting table space) while the rest of us got in line for one of the three available vendors. The lines were long and moved slowly. Standing out in the heat eventually took its toll on me and I gave up on ordering food to return to our table for some relative shade, and a cool cloth on my neck while another friend got into line to buy me some water.
I was given to understand that WEFP had a soft opening. I’m a bit perplexed that somewhere in that process no one considered the heat of summer in planning for some relief for patrons. Misters placed at the west end of the lot would have allowed some cooling carried by the breeze. Shortly before we left one of the three vendors suffered a blown generator and had to shut down. The musicians were just setting up when we gave in to the heat and left.
Again. let me stress that this concept is new, there are kinks that need to be worked out and I’m sure there will be growing pains. I’m not discouraging anyone from checking things out. DO however, be prepared for the heat. If you have the means to provide your own shade and seating, consider doing so. Here’s hoping that things progress for WEFP so that it can truly be s showcase for the amazing food trucks in the Treasure Valley.