There’s no waiting in line these days at the food trucks that make up The Yard. Customers are scarce, but the food truck operators are determined to dish out good food and good service to those who show up at the east Salem facility. (Jean Dion/Special to Salem Reporter)
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In early March, Shannon Williams was filled with hope. She had a huge St. Patrick’s Day celebration planned at her business, The Yard.
Her food truck tenants had stocked up on supplies for the crowd to come.
An Irish band was booked.
The taps were filled with Irish ciders.
Staff members chatted about potential costumes.
Then came COVID-19.
“Everything kept changing day to day during that time. We were really trying to play along, and I was really still hoping to have that celebration and that party,” Williams said.
But restrictions tightened and tightened. On March 16, she learned that the restaurant industry in Salem would be forced to halt in-person dining.
“I was so disappointed,” she said. “St. Patrick’s day was the first day that restaurants and bars had to close their lobbies and do takeout only. So that was our first day of this new thing.”
Instead of celebrating, Williams spent the day delivering bad news. She laid off most of her staff.
The Yard opened in December 2018, and it’s unlike other local restaurants. Food carts line the perimeter of the building, located at 4106 State Street in Salem. The operator of each cart makes food for takeout only. Each truck rents space from Williams.
But at the center of The Yard is a large building with plenty of seating – now unused.
Customers can still walk in and order to-go drinks from Williams or her mom. The two of them handle the bar these days.
But people accustomed to sitting inside to eat at The Yard need to make new plans. All planned parties and celebrations have also been canceled.
Technically, The Yard remains open, and Williams hopes it will stay that way.
“Our big thing is that we have the food carts to be there for. And we have individual owners that I need to stay positive for,” Williams said.
But customers remain scarce.
Williams has 16 carts at The Yard, and about eight open each day. She estimated that each cart serves seven to 10 people a day. That represents a steep dip in customer traffic.
Some carts are signing up for delivery services like Uber Eats and Door Dash, she said. But it’s hard for some food truck owners to make ends meet without high customer volume, she said. She understands.
“I have a food cart myself,” she said. “It was the Monday before we were forced closed down, and I think my sales were $54, and I had an employee scheduled that full day, and I did not cover her wages by any means. So I closed that first day.”
Williams said she’s seen an enhanced sense of community at The Yard. Food truck owners buy breakfast or lunch from neighboring carts. Sometimes, they pop into The Yard for a coffee or a growler fill to take home.
Local businesses have stepped up too. This week, Williams took an order for 108 $20 gift cards from a business owner planned to give to his staffers. The Yard offers so-called “Yard Bucks” that can be used at the bar or at any food cart on the premises. Williams takes orders for Yard Bucks over the phone, or people can come into the main facility to buy them.
“Any sales help,” she said.
Cart owners do their part to ensure customers have a good time, she said.
“The cart owners are just probably over the moon when people come to order, so the customer service is probably even better than before,” she said.
This can be a difficult environment in which to launch a new business, and Williams has let at least two food cart owners opt out of joining The Yard, despite prior agreements. But those sticking it out seem grateful for the support, and they believe in the model of The Yard.
“People love that it’s a one-stop location with so many amazing food options, and everyone is so passionate about what they do,” said Jorge Armando Najar, owner of the food cart Will Ya Look at That?! The cart serves tamales, and Najar said his top seller is a platter of 12.
Tunya Dhevaphalin, owner of the food cart Jasmine Flower Thai Kitchen, said, “People come to the yard because of the variety they get. It’s a one-stop shop for groups with different preferences. What draws people in is the ability to choose something different and try something new. The more carts there are open, the more people want to branch out.”
With indoor dining banned by state order, The Yard waits for the day customers can come back to the east Salem food court. (Jean Dion/Special to Salem Reporter)
The financial challenges are real, she said. But she hoped to keep serving customers.
“As long as we are healthy, our family can keep providing food for other families,” she said. “We have taken a huge cut in revenue during these times, but the community understands that we are all trying our best to get by, so those who can support us will try to.”
Williams said her food cart tenants are grappling with tough emotions, and she mentors and supports them when she can. The community has a group chat, and each day, they come together to share words of comfort.
“Our advice for them is to keep plugging away for as long as you can because if you’re sitting at home, you’re going to be thinking about being here and trying to make sales,” she said.
She also encouraged Salem residents to stop by, pick up a hot meal, and perhaps fill up a growler.
“You’ll walk outside in the open air, the carts are well spaced, we’re still playing music, and it’s a fun environment. You’ll see so many people that are happy you’re here,” she said. “I still think that people need human interaction, even if it’s just a conversation at a distance.”
Williams acknowledged that some people aren’t comfortable with coming to The Yard right now. She hopes to see them when the restrictions lift.
“I’m hoping that after this is over, people will really come to The Yard and celebrate that we powered through together and kept it going,” she said.
The food carts don’t rotate, but some aren’t open every day. Follow The Yard on Facebook or Instagram to see a daily post filled with open carts, or call 503.385.8066.
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