The former owner of Fells Point megabar Bohager's is getting on the food truck bandwagon.
Damian Bohager and commercial real estate broker Clark Bowman launched the 30-foot-long
Silver Platter food trailer earlier this month, serving up lobster rolls, firecracker shrimp, seared scallops with creamed corn and prosciutto and braised sweet onion brisket. Food items cost between $8 and $14.
The trailer is parked in a lot at the intersection of Central and Eastern Avenues in East Baltimore. Eventually, the pair will launch three more in the city, which will cost about $200,000, Bohager says.
Silver Platter joins the long list of Baltimore food trucks that includes Miss Shirley's, Kooper's Chowhound Burger, Iced Gems, Juana Burrito and Curbside Caf�. Earlier this month, the city created food truck zones and temporarily lifted some restrictions on the vehicles' operations.
Bohager hopes to get "thousands" of foodies and vendors to come to his July 8 food truck rally to show support for the businesses.
Cited by Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot for not paying nearly $600,000 in taxes in 2010, Bohager says he is negotiating with the state to pay off what is remaining of his debts. He also says he never had any intention of opening another bar, contrary to some media reports that ran earlier this year.
Bohager says he prefers operating a food truck, which he can operate with just two employees, rather than the nearly 200 he had to manage at Bohager's.
The trailer is equipped with a full restaurant kitchen, ice machine, four-burner stove and oven, griddle, refrigerator freezer and sandwich unit. It also holds a credit/debit machine.
Silver Platter's Executive Chef Christopher Cherry has worked for the former Polo Grill, Tabrizi's and the Crab Shanty Restaurant.