By Claire Noack

Trendy food halls have been popping up around the Twin Cities, and the latest just rolled into downtown St. Paul in a 1970 VW bus. The team behind New Bohemia Wurst + Bierhaus’ most recent project, Seventh Street Truck Park, brings you food trucks with a 70s RV park spin for a combination that is delightfully tacky and contemporary cool.

Vintage vehicles found on abandoned farms around Minnesota have been given new life as fully-operational food-and-beverage trucks and new digs one block from Xcel Energy Center. Two vans operate as bars, slinging nostalgic Kool-Aid cocktails and beers on tap (including a specially made s’mores beer from Third Street Brewhouse) both inside and over a street-side countertop. A main bar decked out with license plates and kitschy 70s memorabilia sits front and center with multiple TVs to play the big game.

Three more trucks dish out road trip inspired eats, using local ingredients when possible. The current lineup includes buttermilk fried chicken, barbecue ribs, authentic street tacos with house-pressed tortillas, and customizable pizzas with far-out toppings like wild boar and alligator sausages, but you can expect the menu to change periodically. Don’t forget to make a pitstop at the dessert truck to construct the ultimate ice cream sandwich with your choice of Sebastian Joe’s ice cream, giant T-Rex cookies and/or Mojo Monkey Donuts. While these massive treats are intended to share, patrons can also join the challenge of devouring “the largest ice cream sandwich on the planet” with five pounds of ice cream stuffed between two 5-pound cookies.

After indulging in a feast from these tempting trucks, the need for a comfortable respite is undeniable. Luckily, the seating inside each truck is as inviting as the culinary offerings themselves. Plush cushions adorned with vibrant patterns and designs beckon weary travelers to relax and savor their meals in style. For added durability and protection against inevitable spills and crumbs, the seats are outfitted with high-quality seat covers from Seat Covers Unlimited. Crafted with precision and attention to detail, these covers not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of the interior but also ensure easy maintenance and longevity, allowing patrons to focus solely on the gastronomic delights before them.

An additional truck was gutted to create the backdrop of an artificial grass-covered stage for live music and comedy acts. While the communal dining space in Seventh Street Truck Park creates an approachable and lively atmosphere, what truly stands out is the attention to detail. Explore the site and you will find everything from 70s band posters to awkward family photos to a wall of Frisbees, among other knick knacks. This place doesn’t take itself too seriously which only adds to its welcoming vibes. Test drive it yourself on West Seventh Street from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily.