Italian Ice Cart Stirs Discussion on Food Trucks for Downtown Glen Ellyn

Glen Ellyn village board trustees discussed options for food trucks in its downtown during a recent meeting, according to media reports. 

The owner of an Italian ice cart recently requested a spot downtown and the discussion among trustees has centered around how Glen Ellyn should handle such requests and if food carts "affect brick-and-mortar businesses in town," according to the Chicago Tribune. 

Director of Planning and Development Staci Hulseberg said Glen Ellyn does not get many requests from food cart owners interested in its downtown area but has allowed a hot dog cart in the area for the past 17 years and approved a gelato cart to operate in its downtown for one year, according to the Chicago Tribune. 

The Italian ice operator, Sunset Slush, is requesting a license agreement to operate in Glen Ellyn's central business district. Sunset Slush plans to operate a portable cart for the purpose of selling Italian ice in front of the Citibank building at 444 N. Main Street from May 15 to Sept. 15, according to the village of Glen Ellyn March 24 village board packet. 

Glen Ellyn charges $50 for a food cart license fee. Other communities charge between $44 and $500 for an annual license fee, according to village documents. 

The Chicago Tribune reports the Glen Ellyn village board this past week decided to table its decision until its April meeting on the Italian ice cart and will also hold off for now on renewing a license for the hot dog cart.