Ralphs Seeks To Ban Taco Trucks From Operating Near Palisades Store

LOS ANGELES, CA — Ralphs Grocery Co. Wednesday filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction against multiple food truck operators who the grocer maintains are creating a nuisance with congestion, trash generation and rudeness to Ralphs employees at the Pacific Palisades store.

The Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order as well as a preliminary and permanent injunction preventing the mobile food vendors from coming within 200 feet of the store's perimeter. Ralphs additionally seeks compensatory and punitive damages.

Along with public and private nuisance, the suit alleges trespass, negligence and intentional interference with prospective economic advantage.

Among the seven vendors named in the suit are Rudy Barrientos, owner of Gracias Señor Taquería. Barrientos has parked his truck on the public street adjacent to the Sunset Boulevard Ralphs for a decade. He told LA Taco that Ralphs has been inexplicably turning up the pressure against him over the last year, including by sending lawyers and armed security guards after him.

“We're completely in our right to vend outside the parking lot,” he said. “It's public street parking."

Rather than fight Ralphs' attempts to push him out, Barrientos recently began parking his truck on another street adjacent to the supermarket, which caused his sales to decline 20%, he told LA Taco.

All of the seven vendors have parked for business on Sunset Boulevard between La Cruz Drive and Carey Street and Alma Real Drive between Toyopa Drive and La Cruz Drive, according to the suit, which further states that the problem began in August.

The suit claims the trucks inhibit the view of Ralphs customers and employees entering and leaving the parking lot, creating a dangerous condition.

It also claims the vendors' customers in some cases fight with each other and are hostile to Ralphs workers and that Ralphs has had to buy containers because of the trash generated by the vendors.

"On many occasions, store customers have been exposed to (the vendors') customers yelling profanities and driving recklessly," the suit states.

The vendors have not agreed to move to different locations and they remain outside the store despite complaints to the city and the LAPD, the suit further states.

City News Service contributed to this report.