When the food truck takes a break

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Mornings are typically a busy place not far from where West 236th Street and Independence Avenue meet.

Here George Korfiatis and Rebecca Paul set up shop with their Park Lunch food truck, using the smell of breakfast to bring together not just neighbors, but both students and even faculty of nearby schools like Spuyten Duyvil P.S. 24, and The David A. Stein Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy M.S./H.S. 141.

Doorman Moses Martinez walks across the pedestrian footage bridge on West 235th Street and Henry Hudson Parkway to hit the Dunkin’ Donuts on Johnson Avenue. But when school’s in, he prefers a steaming cup of Bustello coffee, something he typically only finds at Park Lunch.

“It’s been convenient,” Martinez said. “Whenever I don’t have lunch to bring to work. I see George and he has his good coffee, good breakfast and good lunch.”

For Martinez, Park Lunch is more than just a food truck. It’s a place where he catches up with his brother, who also works in the area and frequents the food truck.

“Sometimes I bump heads with him in the morning, which is great,” Martinez said.

Kevin Ryan is such a regular customer, Paul knows what he wants before he even arrives.

“She’s a mind reader,” said Ryan, who teaches at P.S. 24. “She knows her customers.”

Adrian Chalas, 13, also is a regular customer, stopping in from RKA. He’s become so dependent on the truck to start his day, Chalas said he’s going to have to learn how to make breakfast during an upcoming spring recess.

“Their food is really good and I’m a really bad cook,” said Chalas, who typically enjoys a bacon and egg sandwich, or a vanilla doughnut. “I’m going to learn to make (cold) cereal.”

Over the years, Korfiatis has served some famous people, like former mayor Rudolph Giuliani and sex therapist “Dr. Ruth” Westheimer.

After working in a restaurant that eventually closed, Korfiatis, a Greek immigrant, opened Park Lunch in 1978. A food truck, he said, was less of a financial risk, where he could change locations to the most profitable area while a restaurant is forced to sit in a fixed location.

Korfiatis’ spot at West 236th and Independence was attractive because of its proximity to P.S. 24, RKA, the Spuyten Duyvil Library and Seton Park.

His truck also is the only place many can grab a bite to eat in the immediate vicinity.

Instead of taking a spring break like many of his customers, Korfiatis took his truck in for maintenance while Paul took a road trip to visit her son.

The two met when Paul was looking to leave her babysitter work for a different job. She’s been working with Korfiatis for five years.

Customers said they’d eat a little better when school went back in session.

Park Lunch, food truck, Adrian Chalas, George Korfiatis, Moses Martinez, Rebecca Paul, Kevin Ryan, Lisa Herndon

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