Greer food-truck owner seeks exemption after license denied over felony restriction

Lisa Bain, owner of Corn Star Food Truck, told Greer City Council she has rebuilt her life after substance use and asked the council to reinstate her business license after city licensing staff denied renewal because of a prior felony conviction.

Bain described her recovery, her work operating a recovery home and peer-support certification, and said she has held business licenses in other Upstate jurisdictions but was denied in Greer. “I cannot sell roasted street corn at the farmer's market in Greer,” Bain said at the podium. She asked the council to “lift these restrictions on the business license in Greer to reinstate my business license.”

Council members and Administrator Merriman acknowledged the ordinance language amended last year contains felony-related restrictions that have affected food-truck vendors. Merriman said staff — including business licensing, courts and law enforcement — would review the ordinance language and return options to council for consideration. He said he was aware of at least one other similar instance.

There was no formal amendment or vote on an ordinance at the meeting; council members signaled support for staff review and asked for the matter to be placed on a future agenda if changes were recommended. Bain gave council letters and said she wanted the city to allow reentry into low-barrier business opportunities for people in recovery.