A new food truck village has opened in Lake Norman, offering 9+ options for eating
A retired UNC Charlotte vice-chancellor is taking a new role in hometown, revisiting his entrepreneurial roots as he launches a food truck experience in downtown Cornelius.
David Dunn spent the last few months transforming the grassy area behind his car wash into a 20,000-square-foot community gathering spot called OTC Food Truck Village. (OTC stands for Old Town Cornelius, a new branding for historic downtown Cornelius.)
The space, located on Catawba Avenue directly across from Smithville Park, will be home to up to permanent food trucks and a common area with picnic tables, heat lamps, flower beds, string lights and cornhole boards. The site can accommodate about 100 guests.
“We’ve been in our soft launch phase for a couple of months, and it’s very active,” Dunn said. “It’s an adorable little space that is really resonating with the community.”
The OTC food trucks feature an eclectic mix of international cuisine, with vendor exclusivity to ensure variety. The lineup includes:
Carnalitos: Tacos, burritos and other Mexican food
Chez Irene: French crepes and waffles, both sweet and savory
The Factory: gourmet hotdogs
Halal Food Cart: gryo, Middle Eastern inspired plates
Home of Taste: Ukrainian fare
Java Island Coffee Hut: coffee, sodas and other drinks
Pasteles La Andinita: Venezuelan pasteles and empanadas
Sabores Bakery: fresh daily breads and pastries
Your Mom’s Donuts: hot gourmet donuts
How the food truck village came to life
In 2019, Dunn bought what he calls an “old school, self-serve” car wash in downtown Cornelius. The car wash takes up about a third of the 1.5-acre lot, so Dunn started brainstorming on how he could monetize the rest of the land and use it to bring more visitors to downtown Cornelius.
He was already working with a coffee truck owner, who had set up shop in front of his business.Soon, other food trucks approached him, giving him the idea to expand.
“There are no real restaurants along this beautiful tree lined, one mile stretch of the OTC on Catawba Avenue,” Dunn said. “I recognized the absence of dining options and did some research. The food truck (village) seemed like a really viable option for this community.”
Dunn, a real estate executive who has lived in the Davidson/Cornelius area of Lake Norman for about 35 years, has more plans for the site in the future. He will soon add a large, covered stage for live music and entertainment.
He also intentionally left open a large grassy area to offer a farmers market in the spring. In the meantime, it’s a good space for the little ones to run and play.
OTC Food Truck Village
Location: 20833 Catawba Ave, Cornelius, NC 28031
Instagram: @otc_foodtruckvillage
This story was originally published January 12, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
