Behind the Food Truck: YS Street Food Group

Posted on 09/15/2020 by Tammie Nolte, Big Fat Writer

2020 is really testing the mobility and adaptability of the best food trucks. YS Street Food Group in Seattle has kept their head above water in trying times. How has this little food truck stayed positive, flexible and survived up to now?

2020 FOOD TRUCK SEASON

YS Street Food Truck has really been through a soul crushing season in 2020. Yet, they have remained positive and grateful. The Seattle area was among the first to be hit by the CoronaVirus. Before the pandemic in the good ole days, YS often set up on the Amazon campus to serve a busy lunch time rush. When folks started working from home, business areas all over Seattle no longer had foot traffic and eating customers.

On March 8, 2020 YS posted on Facebook: "As we all know, coronavirus is very serious now, many offices work from home, so our food truck won’t be open next week." That lasted longer than they expected.

YS was closed from March through June and was able to open back up in July. City permit restrictions and finding a place to park and serve food was and is still a major concern for owner Yuli Shen.

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TOOLS FOR BUILDING FOOD TRUCK BUSINESS

Like many food trucks owners, Yuil Shen had to adjust and shift to other income streams like online ordering, delivery services and relocating out to the suburbs to reach audiences where permits are not often required. Yuli didn't sit on her hands during those months, she signed up forFoodTruckBooking.com for catering, parties & events and other local websites.

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SPECIAL THANKS TO AMAZON

"Because of the coronavirus, our business was closed for four months, during which time I also received care from many customers. Thank you for your help and support in the past. Special thanks to Amazon for funding the South Lake Union small business, which has reduced the impact of coronaviruses on our business and allowed us to survive this difficult period smoothly," says YS Street Food on their Facebook page.

"Amazon's Neighborhood Small Business Relief Fund has disbursed over $11 million in cash grants and free rent to more than 900 small businesses." And fortunately, YS applied and received a grant to bridge the 4-month loss of business.

Amazon is no longer accepting new applications for the grants. Grants are grants, not loans. The small businesses who were approved, like YS Street Food Truck, will not have to pay back the money that helped their business survive a 4-month stop.
READY FOR OFF SEASON 2020-2021?

Seattle is located along the coast in the northern most corner of the West Coast. Weather is infamously gloomy and rainy. The warmer spring and summer and fall months are when food trucks make most of their money. Those were exactly the same months that forced YS Street Food Truck to shut down.

Off season now has to be the 'On' season. But winter mood and weather don't inspire parties and events.Amazon didn't reach out to all cities. How haveother food trucks navigated the uncertainties of 2020 and into 2021?
PREPARE FOR BETTER TIMES

Right now, FoodTruckBooking.com is offering food trucks free profile listings and a 1-year membership. Be like Yuli and take advantage of all the services and grants while you can. Be prepared when food trucks business returns to your city.

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