Popular Pleasanton Taco Truck Forced To Move Sees Major Decline In Business

PLEASANTON, CA — Nelly Ramirez has been serving Mexican food from her catering truck for almost two decades, long before the trendy food truck craze took hold in California. The San Jose resident, who has been selling tacos from her food truck parked near the intersection of Isabel and Vineyard avenues in Pleasanton for more than 18 years, was recently told that she had to relocate Nelly’s Kitchen La Cocina truck to a new location across the street.

A city spokesperson said a complaint from Casa Real at Ruby Hill Winery was lodged in June regarding the taco truck and over the course of a few site visits, Mark Dennis, the city’s code enforcement officer, determined there were some code violations and some issues related to safety and requested the owner relocate.

Years before Casa Real opened, Ramirez said her truck was parked, with the city’s permission, on the shoulder of the city-owned property located near the Casa Real entrance.

In May, Ramirez received a letter from a lawyer representing the Ruby Hill Winery and Casa Real advising her that the customers patronizing her business were parking in the Casa Real lot, trespassing, causing a “private nuisance” and unsafe conditions on their property.

Since the complaint was filed with the city, and after being asked to relocate by code enforcement, Ramirez moved her truck across the street from 410 Vineyard Ave., where the event venue is located. Ramirez says her business has taken a dramatic hit in sales since she was ousted from her original location. Ramirez believes the lack of parking in the small turn-out on Alameda County-owned property is deterring her usual customers from stopping by the truck. Ramirez says she knows of no collisions associated with her customers or their parking habits in her previous location.

Ruby Hill Winery & Casa Real at Ruby Hill Winery said Monday night that they have been working on a solution with Ramirez.

"We met with Mrs. Ramirez and together we’ve agreed on an alternative location on our property to ensure that her business, and ours, can continue to serve our community and to thrive," a spokesperson for Ruby Hill Winery & Casa Real at Ruby Hill Winery told Patch.

Photo courtesy Autumn Johnson/ Patch