The Midpoint Park and Eatery, at 931 SW Second Ave. in the Innovation District, will include four food trucks with long-term leases to satisfy guests’ tastebuds.

Gainesville’s first permanent food truck park is expected to open next March.

The Midpoint Park and Eatery, at 931 SW Second Ave. in the Innovation District, will include four food trucks with long-term leases to satisfy guests’ tastebuds.

Matthew Luedecke, director of commercial real estate for Trimark Properties, said the goal for the space, which will include a green area for guests to lounge and places to hang hammocks, is to create an experience.

“It’s a place for people to spend an afternoon,” he said.

Midpoint Park and Eatery also will include a small parking lot and vehicle drop-off spaces for easy access from ride-share services or to pickup to-go orders.

Later, following the COVID-19 pandemic, Trimark plans to build a stage at the space where live music will be performed. That’s on hold right now to prevent drawing in a large crowd.

Sun shades and misting fans also will be on the property.

Leases have been signed at two of the four food truck spots so far, Luedecke said. These include Da Kine Poke and Mexi Cocina Mobile Kitchen.

“What we’re really trying to do is make sure we have a well-rounded out assortment of options,” Luedecke said.

Mexi Cocina’s chef/owner Santos Hernandez said he’s excited to be a part of the food truck park because he’s been looking into his business’ next steps when the pandemic hit hard. The food truck started in Lake City two years ago and frequently visits local breweries.

“I really like the idea of the open-air food truck park because people are going to feel safer being outdoors with COVID,” he said. “And the location is great, being close to [UF] and downtown. The area’s growing, with more students, more housing and more businesses in the area.”

Hernandez also said that having a permanent location at Midpoint Park will allow him to expand his current menu, which includes California-style Mexican classics like tacos, burritos, quesadillas and enchiladas.

Luedecke said the success of the nearby 4th Avenue Food Park, which opened in January, shows that Gainesville is an area where people like to hang around friends and family outside with different food options available.

“We’re not trying to compete with them, but be there as another option,” Luedecke said.

He said offering new restauranteurs the opportunity to set up their businesses at a venue such as this can help save a lot of money.

“It allows for people that are interested in opening a restaurant to try it out with no need to build out a space or get into a long-term lease,” he said. “They don’t have to spend sometimes a quarter of a million dollars or more.”

Restauranteurs interested in contacting Trimark about the Midpoint Park and Eatery or other commercial business can contact Luedecke

Originally published at Gainesville