During the spring 2015 semester, Elon University’s Student Union Board (SUB) collaborated with Dining Services to launch a new event: Food Truck Frenzy. Five food trucks parked in the temporary parking lot behind Belk Library and served a variety of foods, from dumplings to ice cream to gourmet baked potatoes.
On Wednesday, Oct. 7, SUB welcomed back last year’s vendors in addition to five more, resulting in a diverse array of cuisines.
The increase in the number of vendors was more than an attempt to offer more options for students. Despite the rain, last semester's April 16 Food Truck Frenzy garnered such a massive turnout that some attendees stood in line for more than 30 minutes, according to SUB Vice President senior Sophie Ritter. With double the trucks, the event moved to the Koury Gym parking lot.
In the days leading up to this semester's Food Truck Frenzy, pre-sale tickets were available at dining halls across campus, but tickets were also sold on-site at the event. Lines were long but bearable, and sales were fruitful — last semester, the event sold more than 3,000 tickets, even though rain may have deterred some from attending.
With highs in the 80s Wednesday and the sun beaming down, SUB, Dining Services and their food truck friends saw no end to the crowds. With an addition of more vendors, students were able to move more quickly through the trucks.
Sophomore Elizabeth Reeve saw a big difference between the two iterations of the event.
“There’s a lot less crowds, which is really great, and there’s more options,” she said.
Reeve attended the event with fellow sophomores William Henderson and Grace Landsberg. Henderson was intrigued by the plethora of options.
“I love them,” he said. “I haven’t tried them all, but I might get around to it.”
Henderson and other attendees had a lot to choose from. The event gathered 10 trucks that frequent nearby areas: Captain Ponchos (Mexican), Stuft (Gourmet Baked Potatoes), Chirba Chirba Dumplings (Chinese), KocinA (South American), Soomsoom Pita Pockets (American and Middle Eastern), Baguettaboutit (Sausage variety sandwiches), Pie Pushers (Pizza), Dusty Donuts, and two Jam Ice Cream trucks.
This year, there was more space between trucks and the few high tables scattered across the middle of the parking lot. Senior Gabriella Mays and sophomore Scott Echols enjoyed arepas from KocinA on the red and white checkered tablecloths of a high table. They were pleased with the food and the venue.
“It’s definitely more open,” Mays said. “It doesn’t feel as crowded.”
Now that SUB and Dining Services have perfected the space-to-truck ratio, more trucks are expressing interest in coming to Elon. Between bites of food and crunches on ice cream cones, students are hoping for a signature Food Truck Frenzy event each semester.