Auckland’s iconic White Lady food truck is fighting for survival, amid fears it could be shut down by council regulations.
The late-night burger journal has been feeding partygoers and shift workers in the CBD for more than 70 years.
According to legend, pop star Ricky Martin once ate there, as did American actress Eva Longoria.
Heavy metal band Disturbed always go to The White Lady for a feed when they’re in town, and Guns N ‘Roses stopped by a few years ago during their New Zealand tour.
READ MORE:
* Person dies in workplace incident in Wiri, south of Auckland
* Goodbye cars as Taupo’s center connects with lake and domain
* Coronavirus: Level 3 path away for contactless takeaways and 3-course restaurant meals at home
But The White Lady’s fate now hangs in the balance.
In April, the Auckland council reduced the food truck’s annual license to six weeks, after a nearby business complained that odor and smoke were entering their store. There were also complaints of littering and drunken customers blocking the store’s entrance.
Max Washer, operations manager, said his team tried to address these complaints and put up signs to discourage littering and prevent obstruction.
Chris McKeen / Stuff
Max Washer with his parents Anna and Peter. The White Lady has been a family business since the 1940s.
His staff also do half-hourly garbage checks, making sure they leave the site clean when they close at 4 p.m.
“We put out more bins, we put out signs to discourage littering, our staff picks up rubbish, but the problem here is we’re really busy,” Washer said.
“The council’s position is that our customers are always drunk, but we serve hungry people, not drunk people. We do not sell alcohol or cigarettes. Yes, many people were drunk in the town at that time, and we will serve everyone who comes to us for food. ”
A council spokesman said monitoring in May showed very little improvement.
The White Lady’s license was renewed from June to September, while the Auckland Council continued its review.
One of the underlying issues is the limited number of CBD places left for the food truck.
Auckland Transport’s city center management has changed over time, and the number of appropriate locations has decreased significantly.
Chris McKeen / Stuff
The food truck sells burgers, toast, fries and shakes to late-night visitors to the city.
“Auckland Transport’s view remains that The White Lady’s current location on Commerce St is the only suitable downtown location given our current road layout and traffic volumes, bus routes and parking facilities, as well as operational constraints for the truck itself,” an AT spokesman said. .
This puts Washer and his family in a difficult place.
“We can not control the placement of the truck,” Washer said.
“We do our best to mitigate the issues as much as possible, it seems that it only gives us an impossible task. It feels like we are being micro-managed because of that one complaint. ”
Chris McKeen / Stuff
The White Lady is known as the end point at 4 a.m., after a bubble night in town.
The Auckland Council said while acknowledging that some issues were changing, a street trading license had to be judged on strict criteria – including whether other nearby businesses could function effectively.
Washer said it would be devastating if The White Lady were forced to leave the CBD.
“We realize that the streets are changing, and we are also moving with the times.”
But, he added, “it looks like they want to get rid of us.”
The food truck was started by his grandfather in the 1940s and Washer spent most of his childhood there, stocking up on burgers and helping his parents.
Peter and Anna Washer are still regular at the Commerce St site, starting weekday shifts at 7pm and clocking in most weekends at 7am. Peak time is usually between midnight and 2am.
“We have been around for so long because we are adaptable,” Max Washer said.
“The city is changing, and we want to be separate from it. We want everyone to thrive. ”
Chris McKeen / Stuff
Max Washer grew up around The White Lady, who started his grandfather Bryan in 1948.
when well reported last Sunday on The White Lady’s legacy, there was an outpouring of support from Kiwis who had fond memories of late night outings.
Both Auckland Council and Auckland Transport have acknowledged The White Lady has been an iconic part of Auckland’s history and nightlife.
“While the council recognizes the importance of The White Lady, we must ensure that businesses operate in accordance with the same regulations that all other businesses or operators must follow,” the council spokesman said.
Auckland Council, they added, is working closely with Auckland Transport and The White Lady team to achieve the best possible outcome.
Chris McKeen / Stuff
Signs on the food truck try to stop people from obstructing nearby businesses and littering.