St. Augustine food truck park can serve beer and wine after appeal

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — You will soon be able to buy beer and wine at the Village Garden food truck park in St. Augustine.

It has just received the green light to apply for its beer and wine permit.

Alcohol would typically make up a third of its revenue, but for years it’s had to do without it.

Plus, that permission is only temporary.

“It was always designed to have beer and wine,” explained Kelly Schneck, who owns the food truck park with her husband. “I think people enjoy that on a hot day, a cold beer with their burger.”

The area will still close at 8 pm.

“This is not where someone comes to get wild,” she said.

Schneck explained this is the conclusion of a three-year debate.

“It has been the longest labor of love,” she described.

On Tuesday afternoon, on a 4-1 vote, the St. Johns County Board of Commissioners approved a six-month conditional permit. It drew more than two hours worth of public comments on both sides.

Kelley Fitzsimonds, owner of Little Blue Cooler, LLC, came here as a fellow small business owner to support.

“These folks are just hardworking people,” he said of Kelly and her husband. “They’re opposed by a bunch of neighbors who are scared. They’re scared of their success.”

Sally Myrick has lived in the area for 25 years. She says she’s not against success, but rather what the crowds could bring.

“There are serious questions about overflow parking,” she expressed. “Where would they go with their beer and wine? We don’t know,” she added.

“It’s just have a glass of wine and beer and go home,” said a neighbor of 25 years and frequent visitor, Heather Marks.

“I’m very excited because we’ve been wanting this forever,” she said. “It’s not that it really needed it. But it just adds to it.”

Also being added are some modifications, which are part of the conditional permit.

You’re going to see a white picket fence added to the corner sidewalk where there is an open seating area. You will also see signage posted at the entrance of their parking lot which clearly indicates the overflow parking is next door.

Even though Schneck isn’t certain what will happen after those six months, she’s optimistic, and she’s excited for what’s to come.

“I’m just grateful to really have a chance to succeed,” she said.

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