RAPIDS CITY, Ill. — Three years ago, Greg Kerner launched a food truck business with his wife.
"(We) started out just parking on the main street of Port Byron for the Tug Fest. We've gotten as far as Milan. We've been invited to things in Erie and Clinton, Iowa, (and) all over Davenport," Kerner said.
Now, Kerner is taking the wheels off of Thai Town Café and moving into a storefront in Rapids City. The food truck is stationed in front of the brick-and-mortar shop as construction continues.
Before, Thai Town Café would hit the road, offering fried rice, pad thai and other Southeast Asian delicacies to customers throughout the Quad Cities. That's all changed because of rising gas prices.
"We would connect (the food truck) with our Dodge Ram to pull it around, and those are not great on gas," Kerner said. "So, we just stopped doing that all together."
Over the past two weeks, the average cost of regular-grade gasoline in the U.S. reached a record-setting $4.43 per gallon.
As of Wednesday, that number came down to an average of $4.30 nationwide, according to AAA. In Illinois, the average was $4.54, and in Iowa, it was $3.91.
Although the wheels on the food truck no longer roll, Kerner fears high gas prices will continue to have a negative effect on business.
"It might even affect how far people drive to have our food," he said. "We have customers come from Albany once a week just to have Town Café, and I don't see them doing that very often if the gas prices keep going."
Due to loyal customers living farther away, Kerner said the café offers delivery up to 18 miles away, with delivery prices varying by how many miles traveled.
"Up to 10 miles, we'll go for $5 for delivery," he said. "From 10 to 15, $6 for delivery, and then up to $8 for 18 miles."
Kerner said delivery prices have remained the same for now despite the high cost of gas.
For more information on the food truck and its upcoming storefront location, visit its Facebook page here.
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