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After downtown fire, Crown Point approves temporary food-truck operation to keep restaurant staff employed

5479946 · June 18, 2025
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Summary

Following a fire at a downtown restaurant, the board approved temporary use of a food truck parked in the public right-of-way so the business can continue serving customers and retain employees while investigators complete their work.

After a fire at his downtown restaurant, the owner of Pervecho asked the Crown Point Board of Public Works and Safety on June 18 for temporary permission to operate a food truck in front of the business so he could keep staff employed while insurance and investigators complete restoration work.

Chris Pappas told the board he and his team do not expect repairs to be finished for roughly 60 to 90 days while the fire investigation continues. To avoid losing staff, he proposed parking the restaurant’s festival food truck in front of the building Thursday through Sunday evenings and Sunday brunch hours, using inside servers to take patio orders and a separately branded mobile bar. He said the plan is temporary, weather- and festival-permitting, and would prioritize existing staff employment.

City legal and board members expressed support for the temporary, short-term arrangement; the city attorney described it as a typical community response to help a local business in distress. The board moved and approved a motion granting permission to use the food truck in the public right-of-way under the conditions discussed.

Why it matters: the measure is an operational, temporary relief step to help retain employees and maintain some business activity while the downtown restaurant is out of service for repairs and the fire investigation continues.

Implementation notes from the meeting: the owner said he would advertise availability and that the plan could be adjusted for festival scheduling or weather. Board members asked about parking and street paving schedules; staff said street lists and schedules would be provided to the owner before leaving the meeting. The motion passed by voice vote.