Cleveland's downtown food truck scene levels up
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
/2025/04/25/1745584937682.gif?w=3840)
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Downtown Cleveland Inc.'s popular summer food truck series returns this week.
State of play: What began as Walnut Wednesday more than a decade ago has grown into a downtown lunchtime staple that this year will appear at different locations each weekday.
- The "delicious medley of local eats and live local music" runs through Sept. 30.
What they're saying: The summer food truck series "supports efforts to bring employees back to work, recruit and grow businesses, attract new residents and welcome visitors," Downtown Cleveland president and CEO Michael Deemer said in a statement.
- "The combination of local cuisine and live music turns downtown into a destination — not just a place to clock in and leave."
Dig in: A rotation of more than 50 vendors will be at the following locations (11:30am-1:30pm).
- ⚖️ Memorial Monday at Fort Huntington Park (West 3rd Street and Lakeside Avenue)
- 🚚 Food Truck Tuesday at Public Square (Ontario Street and Rockwell Avenue)
- 🌰 Walnut Wednesday at Ralph J. Perk Plaza (East 12th Street and Chester Avenue)
- 🛣️ Truck Stop Thursday at One Cleveland Center Plaza (East 9th Street and St. Clair Avenue)
- 🆓 Free Stamp Friday at Willard Park (East 9th Street and Lakeside Avenue)
Between the lines: In addition to popular standbys (Hatfield's Goode Grub, Squash the Beef, Thai It Up), the series includes mission-driven food trucks.
- Metro45 Café is a Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry social enterprise that provides job training and real-world experience for people facing barriers in the workforce.
- Executive Grille on the Go is staffed by CMSD high school students enrolled in The Culinary Arts Program.
Go deeper: Check out this week's lineup.