Food Truck Program Expands Economic Opportunities (And Dining Options!) in Atlantic City

Atlantic City's commitment to supporting small businesses and growing its local economy is on full display this summer and beyond as food trucks are operating at two city locations, creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs while enhancing the resident and visitor experience.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to celebrate the launch of Atlantic City's food truck program at the Gardner's Basin Seawall, one of the food truck locations, with the other one being Captain O'Donnell Memorial Park on the other side of town. The initiative is designed to support small business growth while bringing additional food options to residents and visitors exploring areas beyond the city's traditional tourism corridor.

Mayor Marty Small, Sr. said the program reflects the city's broader strategy of creating opportunities for businesses:

"My administration will continue doing everything possible to support businesses while giving residents and visitors more food options throughout the Great City of Atlantic City. This is something the people have been asking for, and we are proud to help bring it to life. While we encourage local vendors to participate, this opportunity is open to anyone interested in operating at these locations. We spent the offseason working out the kinks of this program, and now we are ready to welcome the summer crowds."

The city first opened applications last October for licensed and approved food truck operators interested in conducting business at the two locations. While the original concept allowed for up to 16 food trucks, city officials adjusted the program to accommodate a maximum of 10 vendors (five at each site) to reduce congestion. As of May 2026, seven food trucks have already received approval to operate.

Among the early success stories is Zoagies owner Ezell Barnes, who says the program has already generated strong business activity and helped create a welcoming atmosphere for vendors and customers:

"AC is the place to be," he said. "It's been a beautiful experience. People are eating, greeting and meeting and just having a 'zood' time."

Barnes praised the city's efforts to create a structured and organized program that benefits food truck operators while helping activate different areas of Atlantic City.

"The initiative is amazing," he added. "Shoutout to the mayor, he's initiated something great. A lot of cities are struggling with food truck programs, but since I've been here everything has been organized and structured, and being on both ends of the city is great. The city's been having my back."

Barnes added that strong participation from vendors benefits the entire food truck community by creating a destination atmosphere that attracts more customers and increases visibility for all operators involved.

"We are also grateful to the food truck operators who believed in this opportunity and partnered with us from the beginning," said Atlantic City Assistant Director of Economic Development Bruce Weekes. "What makes this especially exciting is seeing a mix of startups, established food truck operators, and even brick-and-mortar businesses investing in food trucks to be part of this program."

The diversity of vendors participating in the program highlights the growing demand for flexible business opportunities in Atlantic City. For some operators, food trucks serve as a first step toward eventual restaurant ownership. For others, they provide an opportunity to expand an existing business and reach new customers in high-traffic locations

At Gardner's Basin, food trucks are positioned on city-owned property between the Seawall parking lot and the Atlantic City Aquarium, while vendors at Captain O'Donnell Memorial Park are located along Captain John O'Donnell Parkway. The City of Atlantic City's Zoning Office and Department of Public Works installed designated signage to help visitors identify approved vending locations.

The city emphasized that while there is no cap on the number of food truck licenses that can be issued, a rotating schedule will be implemented if more than ten vendors are approved to ensure fair access to operating opportunities. Officials also warned that food trucks operating without proper permits and approvals will be subject to enforcement action.

Food trucks are permitted to operate daily from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Vendors interested in participating must complete the city's registration and approval process by the first day of the month in which they intend to operate.

CLICK TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION (Select 'Food Truck' under license type)