Tarleton Theatre's food-truck park plan prompts mixed reaction; council pauses alley-closure decision

Owners of the Tarleton Theatre told the council they need closure of a segment of the alley beside the theater to create contiguous licensed premises for an adjacent food-truck park, to improve pedestrian safety at a blind corner and to support programming and vendors. The project's proponents said the park would become a year-round destination with permanent food-truck stalls, live events and community arts programming.

Tarleton partners said closing the alley would allow them to keep event guests safe at the Walnut Street exit and enable the food-truck park to host regular events beyond the summer season. "Without alcohol sales it will be impossible for us to break even," said a Tarleton co-owner who described event-production costs and sponsorships that rely on food and beverage sales.

Nearby business owners and property managers strongly objected to a permanent alley closure. Speakers raised operational concerns including delivery truck turn radii, grease-trap and dumpster access, the loss of parking stalls if DPW required a different access plan, and the risk that some service vendors might no longer be able to make pickups. One owner said his dumpsters and grease-trap pickups cannot make the proposed turn.

City staff and public works representatives outlined alternatives: a formal shared loading zone on South Broadway (with time-of-day restrictions for parking vs loading), pavement/curb modifications to improve turn radii, or an easement design that would preserve truck access at the cost of removing on-street parking. Council members urged Tarleton and affected businesses to work with DPW and the traffic, bicycle and pedestrian commission to assess operational impacts and asked staff for legal options that might permit a liquor-license extension without permanently vacating the alley.

Alder Johnson moved to hold the alley-closure request until the next city council meeting to allow additional legal and operational review; the council voted to pause further action so staff can pursue alternatives and gather additional stakeholder input.