Philly Food Truck Owners Try To Keep Businesses Afloat After Fire

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A fire at a Brewerytown warehouse last month dealt a devastating blow to Philadelphia's growing food truck industry. A month later, food truck owners are trying to keep their businesses afloat.

"This place was immaculate and when the fire hit, it was all destroyed," said Gary Koppelman, owner of USA Commissary, a home base for more than 30 city food trucks.

On June 6th, a fire started in one of the trucks stored inside the commissary. Damage to the building was extensive.
Schmear-It Bagels' truck was one of a half-dozen declared a total loss.

"These are 30 small businesses, many of which were in their first couple of months, maybe first year," said owner David Fine. "It's a devastating blow, again overnight.

While other vendors' trucks were spared, they can't operate in the city without a certified, working commissary.

"We're basically at a stand still right now," said Christine Benjamin, owner of two Caribbean Palm food carts. "This was our first week here when the fire happened, so we basically lost everything."

Koppelman said his employees have cleaned up much of the mess, but his landlords are delaying making necessary repairs to the electrical system and exhaust fans on the roof. In the month-long wait so far, Koppelman said one truck has already gone out of business.

Abdul Halimi, who owns the Halal Bros cart at 15th and Spring Garden, is trying his best to avoid a similar fate.

"When you own a food truck, it takes all of your attention, so you don't have time to do anything else," he said. "Then on top of that, they don't know how long it's going to be until it's up and running, so a lot of people are bearing with it, trying to stay patient.

The landlords did not return several requests from CBS3 for comment.

Koppelman and his landlords are set to appear in Landlord-Tenant court on July 11th.