LAKELAND, Fla. — East Main Street may soon become Lakeland’s newest food scene. 

A pair of developers proposed a plan to bring a food truck court to the area, which is mostly made up of car lots and mechanic shops.

Willie Brown, one of the longest-running trainers at Deb’s Gym on East Main Street, has seen both growth and decline in the neighborhood.

“We’ve had some small businesses that over the years closed down because of different reasons, especially when COVID hit,” he said.

That includes a popular bar that was the only food option on the block. Brown says a food truck park is needed next door — not only to enhance the neighborhood but also to bring in more foot traffic.

“Once people get word that the food truck park is going to be here, it’s definitely going to pick up and get more volume, which will be great for the area,” Brown said.

Main Street Eats, LLC co-owner Butch Rahman says the goal is to get the park up and running by next summer. Right now, he and his business partner, Chad Englund, are waiting on a conditional use permit from Lakeland commissioners. If approved, they can bring their vision to life on a lot that was once home to a used car dealership.

“This is going to be the commissary building, and we’re going to have all the kitchen equipment here for them to use, as well as bathrooms for the public,” Rahman said, pointing to the property’s building. “And over on this side here, we’re going to have food trucks. We’ll have up to eight food trucks.”

Rahman says they also plan to repurpose a historic house on the property for an indoor restaurant and use a plot of land on East Rose Street for additional parking.

“And the city of Lakeland has already committed to street-scaping all of Rose Street,” he said. “So the city of Lakeland is committed to making East Main and East Rose more important to the fabric of downtown. Hopefully, this will be a catalyst that brings other entrepreneurs to this area.”

Brown welcomes the news.

“If they come to the food truck park, they’re going to stop by the gym. And that’s going to be my key thing. Yeah, go eat all you want, and then come see me,” Brown said.