Street Hawk Food Truck Closes Due to Maintenance and Cost Issues

Strategic Insights -

The University of Iowa's Street Hawk food truck has been a staple on campus for four years, serving a variety of meals to students and staff. However, due to maintenance issues, cost of upkeep, and extreme weather conditions, the truck has been closed for the 2025-2026 academic year. The truck averaged around 113 customers per day in the 2024-2025 school year, and its presence on campus was a favorite among students, including Ilaria Quezada, a fourth-year student, who appreciated the convenience and quality of the food.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Street Hawk food truck, operated by Michael Graham and Chris Horras, has been a popular food vendor on the University of Iowa campus for four years, serving burgers, chicken sandwiches, wraps, and tacos.
  • The truck averaged around 113 customers per day in the 2024-2025 school year, with some days reaching up to 140 customers.
  • The truck was particularly popular among students, with Ilaria Quezada, a fourth-year student, citing the convenience and quality of the food as major draws.
  • The closure of the truck was due to maintenance issues, cost of upkeep, and extreme weather conditions, which made it difficult for the truck to operate reliably.
  • Dining Services at the UI is exploring alternative options for food vendors on campus, including allowing food trucks to come on campus and providing a variety of options for students.
  • The future of the Street Hawk is uncertain, with Dining Services looking for ways to resolve the issues and bring the truck back to campus.

Statistics:

  • The Street Hawk truck averaged around 113 customers per day in the 2024-2025 school year.
  • The truck reached up to 140 customers on some days during the 2024-2025 school year.
  • The truck has been operating since 2017, and its presence on campus helped alleviate traffic at the university's Burge Dining Hall.
  • The truck was closed due to extreme heat, which made working inside the truck difficult, and freezing temperatures, which also affected the truck's operation.
  • The university has allowed food trucks to come on campus to provide alternative options for students.

Sources:

  • The Daily Iowan: "UI professor to return documents to survivors of Native American boarding schools" [No date mentioned in the original text]
  • Interview with Donald Stanwick, director of dining services at the UI
  • Interview with Ilaria Quezada, a fourth-year student at the University of Iowa