JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Trout River Food Park is said to be the largest food park in Jacksonville. It is a space for local businesses to set up shot and serve their customers.
Vendors said its location, Jacksonville's Northside, should not deter customers from supporting small businesses. The Sunshine State is reported to be the best state to create a small business.
Robert Germano, who owns the Trout River Food Park, believes Jacksonville's Northside will be the area where more small business break ground.
"I've noticed between [interstates] 95 and 295 there's not a whole lot of choice of restaurants except for a lot of fast food," Germano said.
His vision was to create a park full of food trucks. The idea he said, came from visiting a similar park in Orlando. He brought the same concept to Jacksonville, creating a hub of outdoor restaurants.
"In Jacksonville, the food park idea is relatively new," Germano added.
For businesses owners such as Tina "Chef Love" Tucker, setting up her food truck at the Trout River Food Park was beneficial for her and her customers. Tucker, who recently celebrated three years being a food truck owner, said she relocated her business from the Arlington area.
"We want people to know we're here," Tucker said. "The Northside is still a place that you wanna come to and see and it has a lot of different varieties."
As the Jacksonville population continues to grow, so is the the growth of local businesses.