When Evan Werthman set out to start his new food truck business, he identified an area for improvement in the current food truck experience.
“Going up to a food truck, they hand you your go-to box and that’s it,” says Werthman.
The workers, he explains, usually don’t engage the customers. This means they’re often left just standing to the side waiting for their order to be completed.
Working together with his cook and business partner Mark Makins, Werthman believes they’ve found the solution with their new startup, Joy Shtick Food Truck.
The truck, which will celebrate its “grand opening” Monday, October 24 at Taco Lu, has a unique twist that merges the passionate worlds of food trucks and video games. It features a flat-screen television on its side, which will be hooked up to a game console to allow customers to play video games as they wait for their food.
Werthman says he has a Wii and Xbox One already, and is looking into getting an Atari system for retro games. Multiplayer games will be featured including favorites like Super Smash Brothers and Madden.
Werthman believes their concept will be a hit.
“There’s something that happens when a bunch of people who loves video games come together,” he says.
The food served will be gourmet pub fare, and will likely change from week-to-week. Werthman describes it as “what you’d want to eat late at night or at the bar with your friends.” The opening night menu includes a bacon burger topped with spicy bacon mac and cheese and Doritos-breaded chicken fingers, among other items. There will also be a surprise dessert item.
Werthman says they plan to add vegan options in the future.
As for the long-term goal?
“The ultimate goal is to open a brick-and-mortar. Obviously we have to be flexible and see where things lead.”
Opening night on Monday will take place in the parking lot of Taco Lu. The location was chosen because Werthman and Makins both work at the popular restaurant, as do many of their supporters. The event will last from 6:00 to 10:00 PM, with games of Super Smash Bros Melee and the full opening menu.
For more information about opening night, check out the Facebook event page.
