Two weeks ago, patrons of La Petite Creperie -- the popular food truck traditionally stationed near Gimbel Gymnasium -- had quite a scare.
While other food trucks remained huddled together behind the new fencing that had gone up around the gymnasium, La Petite Creperie was nowhere to be seen.
Devotees may have looked to the row of vendors that line Spruce Street from Williams Hall to 38th Street. Others might have even ventured to the small clumps of food trucks parked outside Meyerson Hall and the David Rittenhouse Laboratory.
Still, no success, or crepe truck, could be found.
The explanation behind the mystery: "We had to redo the cart a little bit," Bill Zacharatos, one of the cart's operators, said nonchalantly.
"It was a good opportunity for us [to make the necessary renovations] because they were fencing off the area," he added.
Apparently, La Petite Creperie needed to restructure its kiosk for easier movement within, and just more efficiency in general.
With construction slated to begin this summer on the new Pottruck Fitness Center -- which will extend from Gimbel's current structure -- the truck's owner, Andreas Andoniadis, thought the time was right to make the needed changes.
Soon La Petite Creperie, and indeed all of its compatriots at the Gimbel food truck area, will have to move completely from the site to accommodate construction.
But fear not, for Zacharatos promised that the truck would only be moving only a short distance -- to a location only a block or so away.
The vendors were alerted to the move in February. While Andoniadis was concerned business would be affected at the time, Zacharatos admitted business during the summer is fickle to begin with.
"Business is down during the summer anyway," Zacharatos said. "But lunch is still always busy."
The multi-million dollar fitness center will add 65,000 square feet to the gym, and Gimbel has been closed for the summer to allow for the construction.
Other food trucks being forced to move by the construction are the Quaker Shaker, the Bento Box, Kim's Oriental Food, Ali Baba Magic Food and George's Lunch Truck.
La Petite Creperie will also be more accessible to students come this fall. The popular vendor will be opening up a spot in Houston Hall in August.
Andoniadis began his food truck career in the former incarnation of Houston Hall, where he operated a pizza stand. When Houston Hall was closed for renovations in 1998, he was forced to decide between producing something as average as pizza again, or trying something new.
Fortunately, Andoniadis chose the latter.
La Petite Creperie first opened for business in 1998, and since then has been received much acclaim. They were featured in Philadelphia magazine's "Best of Philly" for two years straight.
