Lathrop businessman Steve Ramsey has the perfect solution.

By August 1, Ramsey – who owned and operated USA Motors on Harlan Road near Louise Avenue and I-5 – hopes to open the Lathrop Food Plaza with 20 mobile food trucks serving a wide variety of cuisine ranging from Mexican and Filipino food to deserts and coffee.

Built on the footprint of the car dealership that closed several years ago, Ramsey hopes that the widespread popularity of mobile eateries will turn the vacant lot into a destination not just for local residents, but also those in the surrounding area that enjoy the variety of food offerings.

“Just based on the sign that we have up there I’ve had about six phone calls from people calling to thank me for bringing this to town,” Ramsey said. “I think that people are really going to enjoy it.”

Fencing is currently going up as construction is slated to begin with the addition of a 20-by-100 canopy tent with tables and chairs and external bathrooms.

Ramsey said that he is already getting leases in from a number of different vendors including Mexican food trucks, a Filipino food truck, a barbecue truck and several Cajun food trucks.

Lathrop currently has a Filipino food truck that is parked at the Lathrop Generations Center, and that site has hosted a variety of food trucks – from the Fagundes Meats and Catering truck from Manteca to the Midgley’s Public House truck from Stockton’s Lincoln Center – for community gatherings and functions that always draw huge crowds.

Ramsey said that the plaza will be built in two phases, with 20 vendors going in initially with an additional 10 after the business gets off the ground.

He said that when he approached the City of Lathrop with the idea, he was met with nothing but open arms and couldn’t be happier with the business-friendly approach that the city has taken with the project.

“The staff at the city has been unbelievable in working to making this into a destination,” Ramsey said. “This is basically going to bring 20 to 30 new businesses to Lathrop and that’s a great thing for the businesses as well as the city and the residents that are excited about it.

“This is going to be fun.”

Ramsey said that plans are currently being drawn up for a permanent structure as well as more entrances and exits to the lot, and he hopes to have the first trucks serving customers by August 1.

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.