Former vendor’s viral post sparks backlash against Kissimmee’s World Food Trucks

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – A now former vendor at Kissimmee’s World Food Trucks says she was forced out of the space she rented for about a decade, triggering a viral backlash and calls online for a boycott of the food truck park.

Gabriella Santos, who operated Los Cipotes, posted a video saying she was given just hours to move her food truck after ten years at the location. The post drew millions of views and sparked a heated debate on social media.

Santos told News 6 that her frustration built for years, citing what she describes as safety concerns, rising operating costs, and feeling unsupported.

She also said vendors paid out of pocket for events, absorbed new fees, and saw sales decline as more trucks were added to the park.

“Somebody’s making that extra money, and it’s not us,” Santos said in a Friday interview.

Santos said a lease renewal meeting this week became a boiling point. She claims a manager asked for access to her point-of-sale system, which she believes was framed as a way to determine rent.

“She said wanted access to the POS, and I said ‘Why do you need access to that?’” Santos said. “’Oh it’s because that’s how we’re going to balance how much your rent is going to be.’”

Santos also raised concerns about what she says were new lease terms, including language she interpreted as requiring 60 percent if a renewed lease was later broken.

World Food Trucks publicly disputed that claim, saying in a social media response: “That claim is completely false.”

Santos later clarified during the interview that she was describing her perception of what the changes would mean for her business, not alleging a literal demand for 60 percent of sales.

“I never said that,” she said. “What I said was that they wanted 60 percent of my business because that’s how I feel. That’s my personal feeling of what you’re doing to me. You’re taking my profits.”

She told News 6 she understand the terms to mean the food truck park would have wanted 60 percent of the remainder of the lease agreement.

Santos said after refusing to sign the new lease, she was told to leave by midnight on Thursday. Photos obtained by News 6 show her former spot is now surrounded by tables.

In a statement to News 6, World Food Trucks said in part, “We respect every vendor’s right to share their experience. We also believe disagreements deserve respectful conversation and accurate information. Our vendors pay a fixed weekly rent, rather than a percentage of their food sales, and we remain committed to clear communication with our vendor community.

Our focus is on supporting the more than 100 businesses that make World Food Trucks possible. We invite everyone to visit, meet the people behind the food, and support the local entrepreneurs who have helped build this community.”

Santos said she believes the viral reaction resonated because people see small business owners as vulnerable.

She said she is speaking for other vendors who are too afraid to go public.

“I think people don’t want little people to get bullied,” she said.