403 Eats Breaks Ground On Tomball's New Food Truck Court

TOMBALL, TX -- The Tomball City Council approved the second reading of a city ordinance that will allow for a mobile food truck park to operate in the city limits.

The park, which will be known as 403 Eats, is currently under construction at 403 East Main Street, and is expected to open for business in May.

Michael Fagan, who co-owns the property where 403 Eats is located, said the appeal was that he and his wife, Gretchen, simply love food.

“We’ve always loved food trucks,” Fagan said. “It's always been part of our repertoire when we go out and eat.”

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Michael and Gretchen Fagan also co-own the Farmer’s Insurance Agency in Tomball, and have other business interests in the city.

The move to bring in food trucks is merely part of the growth business and city leaders in Tomball have fostered over the seven years.

Another part are the toursim and festivals that have helped put Tomball on the map as a weekend destination.

In October 2016, the city hosted the Freight Train Food Truck Festival, which drew thousands from around the Houston area.

Gretchen Fagan, who is also the mayor, proposed the festival which attracted nearly 20 food trucks for the first ever event.

The food truck phenomenon, in recent years, has taken the Houston area by storm, spawning food truck parks in nearby Spring and The Woodlands.

In late February, the city hosted the first of two public hearings on the Food Truck Park, and received no public opposition.

Earlier this month, the Fagans broke ground on 403 Eats, which include space for six trucks, public restrooms, and 12 parking spaces.

Locals in Tomball are adding their names to pallet boards that will be built into the ceiling at the new 403 Eats Food Truck Court. The food truck court opens in May.

They even fostered a little community involvement and invited local businesses and members of the community to come out and add their name to pallet boards that will be part of the ceiling at 403 Eats.

An old building that is on-site, is part of the renovation that will include a 1,000 square-foot porch, enclosures, and a kitchen area.

This venue will also have a smaller baseball field for the kids to play, an area to play washers, and fire pits.

Although the new venue is about a half mile from the downtown depot, Fagan said he’s hoping 403 Eats can play a role in attracting new businesses east of the railroad tracks.

“I think this is going to be the beginning,” he said.

Mike Baxter, Tomball’s Marketing Director, said he is hoping the food truck court will act as a catalyst to bring more restaurants and mom and pop to help generate even more tourism to the city.

“I’m hoping that everything we’ve done on the west side will now spill over on the east side, and become a catalyst for more tourism on the east side,” he said.

See Also: Tomball Poised To Welcome Food Trucks To The City

Image:Gretchen Fagan/403 Eats

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