Food truck operators at The Yellowstone Food Village in Idaho Falls are scrambling to find new locations after being told they must vacate the property by October 1, 2025, leaving several small business owners uncertain about their future.
Vendors at the site say they received notice to leave without detailed explanation, creating confusion among the food truck community that has operated there for years. Some vendors have already departed, while others plan to relocate by the end of this week.
Vendors Seek Answers About Closure
Delbert Kirkham, owner of Thai Food Plus at the food village, said vendors were given limited information about the decision. Business owners at the location learned that Bonneville County plans to either shut down the site or sell the property, according to vendors who spoke with local media.
Kirkham expressed frustration over the lack of clarity surrounding the closure. The food truck operators are hoping for an opportunity to remain at the location, which has served as a gathering place for families and community members.
The food village operates on property adjacent to the Idaho Innovation Center, which manages the lot where the food trucks are situated.
County Ends Innovation Center Lease
Bonneville County Commissioners announced in September 2025 that they would terminate the lease for the Idaho Innovation Center effective September 30, 2026. County officials stated that while the Innovation Center has contributed to the community, the financial investment no longer aligns with the county’s economic development priorities.
The county said it seeks to unify and strengthen economic development efforts across the broader community. The decision to end the Innovation Center lease appears to directly impact the food village, which relies on the center’s management of the property.
Food truck vendors were given considerably less time to relocate than the Innovation Center, with their October 1, 2025, deadline coming nearly a year before the center’s lease termination.
Small Businesses Face Relocation Challenge
The food truck operators describe their businesses as among the smallest in the community, but say the collective presence at the village creates value. Vendors have built a customer base at the location and appreciate the community atmosphere the shared space provides.
Kirkham said he remains hopeful that county officials will reconsider allowing the food trucks to stay, acknowledging that officials likely have reasons for their decision while maintaining that the vendors also have compelling reasons to remain.
The uncertainty has forced food truck owners to begin searching for alternative locations while they await final word on the property’s future. For businesses operating on thin margins, the sudden need to relocate creates both financial strain and operational challenges.
What Comes Next
With the October 1 deadline days away, food truck vendors must finalize relocation plans or cease operations. The fate of The Yellowstone Food Village property after the food trucks depart remains unclear, as does whether Bonneville County will sell the land or repurpose it for other economic development initiatives aligned with the county’s stated goals.
The Idaho Innovation Center has until September 2026 to wind down its operations and vacate the premises under the terms announced by county commissioners.