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The man leading the food truck crusade is apparently waving the white flag. The Gaztro-Wagon restaurant at 5973 N Clark has closed and it does not remain clear if the associated food truck will keep on truckin’. Owner Matt Maroni launched Gaztro-Wagon in June 2010, with hopes of convincing the Chicago City Council to allow businesses to make and sell food from trucks, as other major cities do. Currently food trucks can only dish out pre-made food items, and may only do so if parked no less than 200 feet from another restaurant. Maroni was able to successfully launch the Wagon under current laws, as people followed the truck’s whereabouts on Twitter, and flocked to its landing spot, most frequently in the Loop during lunch hours. Other food trucks soon hit Chicago’s streets following in Maroni’s tracks, including the Southern Mac and Cheese, Lillie’s Q’s Meat Wagon and even cupcake and dog treat trucks.
Last week, an anonymous employee of the Gaztro-Wagon storefront operation informed us that the restaurant was closed. Shortly after, a post from Gaztro-Wagon confirmed the news on Facebook and Twitter: ”Thanks for all of Your support…. We have closed the storefront and has been a great run! Thanks for all of your well wishes. tough decision but it was the Right one for us. the Truck will head out in the Spring so just get your fixes ready for then.”
So the store will close, but the truck will live on the Spring. Bittersweet news, right? We’re not sure. While the food truck may remain, it appears that Maroni is getting out of the game completely. According to this article in TimeOut Chicago, Maroni not only closed the store front, but is handing over the keys of the food truck “to somebody else” and stepping down from his role with Lincoln Park’s Morso, which Maroni opened in August. Maybe Maroni has other plans up his sleeve, but this adds another twist to the food truck battle, which Maroni is credited with initiating.
