COUNTRY OF LAKES. Florida – East Main Street, east of downtown Lakes Regionis known for its auto sales stores and auto repair shops, but it may soon be known for its food scene.

“It’s a nice neighborhood. It’s quiet,” said Walter Artis, who works out at Deb’s Gym on E. Main. St. “Many businesses have been here for a few years. There is also Wally’s Pool Hall, which is famous here in Lakes Region“.

A billboard advertising Lakelands offered Main Street Eats food truck parking.

Right next to Deb’s Gym is an empty lot that used to be an auto sales business. If Lakeland city commissioners vote to approve a plan, it could become a food truck park with eight food trucks called “Main Street Eats.”

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“It’ll be good, especially for the people in the gym, because when they come out, they’ll want to grab a bite to eat,” Artis said. “There are a lot of people working in this area, and there aren’t a lot of restaurants here, so it’ll be pretty good.”

Jonathon Melendez is a gym trainer and agrees it will be good for business. “People who get food there will then see the gym, and there will be cross-marketing at that time, where we will help them, and they will help us.”

The parking lot at Deb’s Gym, where the city of Lakeland is looking to create a food truck parking lot.

The property’s residential and office buildings will be repurposed for restrooms, indoor seating and a commercial kitchen. The back of the building could also serve beer and wine only.

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A parking lot on E. Rose Street will also be used for off-street parking.

The vacant office building and parking lot on E. Rose Street will be used for restrooms, indoor seating, a commercial kitchen and off-street parking.

Main Street Eats co-owner Butch Rahman says the establishment is not far from downtown and hopes it will attract more people to the area.

“If this is successful, more people will come to E. Main St,” Rahman said. “If it doesn’t, then I don’t think anything will work there, but we think it’s perfect for there. We have Florida Southern College three blocks away.”

“The food attracts everyone,” Artis said. “As long as it’s good, it’s going to attract a lot of people, so for sure, I think it’s definitely going to attract a lot of people.”

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City commissioners will vote on the plan at their next meeting on Monday, Dec. 16. If approved, Main Street Eats could open next summer.

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