Food truck season almost over: Who's still open and who's closed

Gastro Truck: Still open.

​The food truck season is almost over. Last Wednesday was the last food truck court in St. Paul, and today is the final food truck rally until spring.

But even as many food trucks shut down for the winter, others are staying open, and some are just getting started. We got in touch with a number of companies to find out who's still open, who's closing, and who's closed.

A few food trucks are looking into the possibility of staying open all winter.

"We want the truck to stay tough," says Mike O'Halloran with the Barrio food truck. They're considering equipping their truck with heaters for customers.

Fork in the Road: One of several trucks that will be open all winter.

​Fork in the Road will remain open through the winter, as will the Gastro Truck. Ditto Nate Dogs. Check their Twitter accounts for updates on where they'll be on any given day.

Simply Steve's also plans to be out around 10th and Nicollet throughout the winter, when it's above 20 degrees and there's no snow. "I'm sure I'll also be on Marquette between Sixth and Eighth," says owner Steve Ramlow.

Other mobile eateries plan to close sometime in November. Hola Arepa is closing November 4, this Friday. Potter's Pasties is aiming to finish up November 26. Vellee Deli will announce a date on its website this week and guesses it'll be "mid-November."

The Chef Shack is looking at December 1 as a potential last day.

"It's Minnesota," explains Lisa Carlson. "If it's nice out we will be out."

Josh Thoma at the Smack Shack says he'll let the consumer set his deadline.

"When people stop coming is what we've been telling our guests," Thoma says. On the other hand, he says, "We serve every night at 1029 Bar, inside, so if people still want a lobster roll they can always come here."

Some trucks have already closed for the winter.

128 Cafe is closed for the season, as are Dandelion Kitchen and World Street Kitchen, both of which finished up last Friday. Chef Sameh Wadi also suggested to City Pages that plans "might change," so check their Twitter.

Hoa Nguyen's YumMi Truck is just getting started.

​Oddly enough, one food truck is just getting started: YumMi Truck, a Vietnamese sandwich shop, opened two weeks ago due to several delays building their truck. Owner Hoa Nguyen said she decided to open now instead of waiting for the spring to build a little name recognition.

"Because we started so late, we just wanted to make sure we can generate some business and get our name known a little bit more to the downtown audience," Nguyen says. She's thinking of delivering sandwiches through the winter, too, even after she's stopped setting up every day.

Check out each trucks' Twitter or website for further information.

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