- Chris was hesitant to follow his dreams.
- Flying to Florida to buy a food truck.
- It was all worth it in the end.
Food is a necessity. Humans must eat to stay alive, which makes the demand for food pretty high. Not only is the demand high, but it has steadily increased since the beginning of time. That being said, the food industry is one of the top industries to be in because it’s always going to be there. This is the mentality Chris Tollers had when he first began thinking of buying a food truck.
Hesitation
Tollers started to learn to cook before he could talk. As far back as he can remember, Tollers has always been in love with the art of cooking.
“It is something that has stuck in my family, it just stuck to me a little stronger than most,” food truck owner Tollers said.
As a young adult, many of Tollers friends and family encouraged him to start his own restaurant; but owning a restaurant never spiked his interest. That was until January of 2016 when he scrolled upon a food truck on craigslist for sale in Florida.
Getting to Florida
The distance from Florida to Oklahoma is no quick trip. On top of that, the food truck did not run. After speaking with the owner, Tollers, a successful mechanic at the time, took the challenge. A couple of days later Tollers bought a one-way ticket to Florida in hopes of being able to fix the truck, and drive it back to Oklahoma. Though some people would question Tollers decision, friends and family flooded him with support.
“I had no doubt he would be able to fix the truck,” said close friend Kelli Rice, “when I heard he was actually going to do it I was so excited.”
Because of unexpected difficulties, Tollers spent a little longer in Florida then he was expecting; but he eventually made it back with the food truck in Oklahoma.
Once back on home turf, Tollers quickly realized starting up a food truck service, while already working full-time for another company, was going to be no piece of cake. Much time and effort was needed to get this business started.
If asked, majority of people would assume if they saw a food truck that they most likely sold tacos. This is exactly what Tollers did not want to do. He wanted something different that would stand out from all the taco selling food trucks. So instead he chose to sell beef: ribs, brisket, shank, etc.
Hard Work Pays Off
From the get-go the food truck was a success. Living in the small town of McCloud, Okla. Tollers relied on family and friends to get his new food truck business; it didn’t take long for word to spread. Before he knew it, he had regulars every weekend, and still does to this day.
“Every weekend that trucks parked in the same spot, and every time I see it there is at least five or six people in line” said McCloud resident Garrett Wilson.
The decision to fly to Florida, and fix up that beat up food truck has blessed Tollers more than he says he could have ever imagined. He enjoys any chance he can get to talk about it, and looks forward to seeing where it takes him.
A Food Truck Story Worth Knowing 