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How to choose the location for a dining car? A practical guide for entrepreneurs
Against the backdrop of the "street economy" heating up and the "night market revival" advancing, more and more ordinary people regard mobile food trucks as the preferred choice for low-cost entrepreneurship. With just a modified car, a set of cooking equipment, and several signature snacks, one can start their own small business.
However, the reality is: some earn thousands of yuan per day, while others have to close their stalls after three days - the gap often lies not in the products, but in the location.
As the saying goes: "Seven-tenths of success depends on location, and three-tenths on operation." For food trucks, choosing the right location not only determines the customer flow, but also affects compliance, repeat purchase rate, and long-term survival. This article will systematically break down the core logic and operation methods of food truck location selection from a practical perspective and provide you with a comprehensive explanation.
One、First, ask three key questions
Before blindly choosing a location, please first clarify the following points:
1. Who are your target customers? (Office workers? Students? Night snack lovers? Mothers? )
2. What consumption scenarios is your product suitable for? (Fast-moving? Social? Essential?)
3. How many periods can you set up your stall each day? (All day? Morning and evening rush hours? Only on weekends?)
Only by answering these questions clearly can you avoid the mistake of "stopping when there are many people".
For example: If you sell 15 yuan per cup of handcrafted lemon tea and your target customers are young people aged 18-30, then schools, cultural and creative markets, and riverside walkways are much more suitable than the entrance of the vegetable market.
Two、Four dimensions for selecting the location of gold mines
1.Traffic accuracy > Total visitor volume
It's not about having more people; rather, it's about having more "the right people".
- ✅ High-conversion areas: Office building lunch break areas, periphery of university canteens, exit of subway transfer corridors, entrance of night markets;
- ❌ Low-efficiency flow areas: Next to main roads (where pedestrians do not linger), ticket inspection points of scenic spots (where tourists head straight for the attractions), pure transit bus stops.
Tip: Observe whether the crowd is "free, wealthy and in need" - backpackers, office workers carrying briefcases, couples strolling together - all are potential customers with high purchasing power.
2. Duration of stay and willingness to consume
The dining car requires customers to make a brief stop to complete the order process, pick up their meals, and consume them (or pack them). Therefore:
- First, choose a location with sufficient buffer space.：Such as at the edge of the square, beside the green belt, and on the sidewalks that are not on the main road;
- First,Avoid setting up stalls in the main pedestrian walkways, as this not only disrupts traffic, but also makes it difficult to achieve a gathering effect.
Also note：
- Office workers usually have a lunch break of only 30 to 45 minutes. They prefer products that are served quickly and have transparent pricing；
- During the night, consumers place greater emphasis on the experience and are willing to pay for the "atmosphere" and "popularity" aspects.
3. Competition and Blank Opportunities
There being no competition doesn't necessarily mean a good position; it might indicate insufficient demand；
However, in areas where there are 10 or more food truck vendors, a price war might break out.
Ideal condition：
- There are 2 to 3 complementary food trucks nearby (for example, if you sell beverages, there will be barbecue and pancakes nearby), forming a "food cluster".
Or identify gaps in the market segmentation (for example, if there are no healthy light meals or sugar-free desserts in the entire night market).
Suggest：Use the mobile map to search for "night markets" and "food streets", and conduct on-site investigations to record the types of competitors, pricing, and queue situations.
Three、Recommendation of site locations for different product types
|
product type |
Best scenario |
Suggested opening hours for the stall |
|
Breakfast items (steamed buns, rice balls, soy milk) |
Exit of the subway station, entrances of primary and secondary schools, entrances of industrial parks |
Morning period |
|
Lunch fast food (stuffed rice, noodles) |
Office building complexes, areas around vocational schools/universities, factory living zones |
Midday period |
|
Snacks for dinner (fries, grilled sausages) |
The government has designated night markets, bar streets, night market entrances in residential areas, and night running tracks in parks. |
Evening period |
|
Internet-famous beverages/desserts |
Commercial district pedestrian street, cultural park, riverside green space, music festival / market event site |
Throughout the day (with a focus on the weekend) |
|
Healthy light meals / Low-calorie meals |
Near the gym, in the upscale residential area, and in the area where office workers gather |
Lunch + After-work Period |
Four、Field reconnaissance
Before departure, prepare a "site assessment form" and score it on-site.：
- Whether the flow of people is stable during the morning, afternoon, and evening periods？
- Is the proportion of the target customer group over 60%?？
- Is there sufficient parking/stall space (at least 2m×2m)？
- Are there any similar competitors nearby? The quantity (or amount)？
- Are there frequent inspections by urban management officers? Are there any risks of merchant complaints？
- Is it within the permitted area for setting up stalls by the government？
Observations made at the same time over three consecutive days are more reliable than just relying on one's senses.
Five、Advanced Strategy: From Mobility to "Semi-Stability"
Initially, it relied on continuous trial and error to validate the products and models；
Once a high-repurchase area is identified, one can try：
- Collaborate with the property management to become a "community convenience breakfast vehicle"；
- Apply for the fixed stall number at the night market；
- Join the local market alliance and secure a stable schedule.
When your food truck becomes a familiar sight at a certain location, trust and reputation will naturally be established.
Epilogue
Starting a food truck business requires not only skills, but also an understanding of urban space and an insight into people's behaviors.
Choosing the right location can save you from taking a detour for half a year; choosing the wrong corner might deplete your enthusiasm within just three days.记
Annotation: A good business is found in the right place.
May your food truck stop at the intersection of traffic and fireworks, and head towards your own small but beautiful business.