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The Garage, A Food Truck Commissary, Opens Soon

By Staff in Food on May 19, 2013 7:30PM

He’s the man behind Chicago’s first licensed mobile food preparer, The Salsa Truck, and now Dan Salls is taking his food truck expertise to a whole new level, and place—The Garage.

Located in the West Loop, The Garage will serve as Chicago's only food-truck commissary complete with a full working kitchen and 1,600 square feet of space, the ideal spot for The Salsa Truck and other local mobile food vendors to park, cook and host events.

“We have truly altruistic intentions for the space itself,” Salls, a former stockbroker, said.

“We see it as a sort of ‘culinary incubator.’ Not only do we want it to house and help cultivate our business, but we feel that we can help other food trucks and aspiring chefs to hone their craft here.”

Once the city approves the open, Salls and his team will use the space as a lunch counter, offering dishes mostly from The Salsa Truck as well as signature items from other food trucks housed there.

“The Garage will initially feature an expanding Salsa Truck menu along with a rotating a la carte menu based on our favorite things to eat,” Salls added. “One day we might do burgers, hot dogs and sausages, while the next we could do Mediterranean and the very next day could be lasagna! The possibilities are endless.”

We were lucky enough to get a sneak peek and taste of The Garage—and it’s everything Salls had envisioned, inspired by all the parties he had been to in friends’ garages growing up, home cooked meals and an easy going atmosphere.

Customers will be greeted by the sounds of vinyl records spinning in the back and have the opportunity to shop for various food products from The Salsa Truck and other local companies. Combine that hangout atmosphere with Al Pastor tacos and homemade salsa that will leave you wanting thirds, and you’ve got The Garage.

If all goes planned The Garage should be open for business May 28.

The Garage is at 116 N. Aberdeen St.

By: Jennifer Fisher