Article

This is not your grandfather's, or grandma's, grilled cheese

The EZ Cheezy food truck, owned and run by Shannon Garrows, isn't your typical grill cheese sandwich fare. Garrows shares insight on running the truck and what she loves most about being a food truck operator in this first installment of Food Truck Operator's new series.

Photo provided.

March 12, 2020 by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com

This is the first in a series of articles spotlighting food truck operators. If you are a food truck operator we'd love to interview you about your business so email us.

Food Truck Operator is launching a feature series that puts a spotlight on trucks and their owners — offering insight on everything from how to get started, the good and bad of running a food truck, to unique marketing and business strategies.

We're kicking off the series with a Q&A with Myrtle Beach, South Carolina-based truck, EZ Cheezy, owned and run by Shannon Garrows.

Garrow's menu is a wonderful offering to all those who love a creative take on the old stand by grilled cheese sandwich. It includes the All-American (a melty mess of perfection), the EZ Attitude (pepper jack and American cheese), the Mac Daddy (lots and lots of cheddar cheese) and the Jack Daddy (yes, you guessed it, pepper jack cheese). Toppings include bacon, tomato and jalapenos.

Garrows recently set up to serve at the Mosby Carolina Forest apartment home complex for a few hours to offer residents the chance to try her grilled cheese specialty sandwiches. She began running the truck in October, 2018.

Mosby Community Manager Mike Cuite invited Garrows and her truck for a two-hour visit as part of the complex's community events program that will invite food truck fare in a regular basis.

"This is something that I have done in the past at other properties in Charleston, South Carolina. It is something the residents have loved, and I am hoping for the same success at this property," Cuite told Food Truck Operator in an email interview.

Mosby Carolina Forest is a pet friendly community that opened in September 2019, featuring one, two and three bedroom apartments. The community includes amenities such as 24-hour fitness center with yoga studio, saltwater pool, two-level clubhouse, package lockers, dog park and spa, outdoor fireplace and grilling areas.

"Right now, we are selecting food trucks that are willing to come out and see what type of success we may have at these events. Some of the trucks require a guaranteed amount in sales and unfortunately with us being so new we cannot guarantee how successful the event will be," he said.

In the next few weeks Mosby residents will get to enjoy fare from Let It Ride BBQ, Benitos Rolling Oven and possibly Uncle Louie G Italian Ices this summer.

"We are hoping that the first few trucks have a good turn out and that will allow us to have other trucks that are interested in coming out," said Cuite.

During her stop at Mosby, Garrows shared how she came to own and operate a food truck and insights on lessons learned and tips for new truck owners.

Q. Is this truck your first or one in a fleet?

A. First one.

Q. What prompted you to start a food truck?

A. My time spent at culinary school. (Garrows is a graduate of XXXX)

Q. Why did you choose the cuisine?

A. The truck was a grilled cheese truck when i bought it so I went with it.

Q. Do you make all the food on the truck or do you use home-based kitchen or commissary space?

A. Both. I use a commissary kitchen but most food is made on the truck 

Q. What's the best part of being a food truck operator?

A. Meeting people and hearing how much people like our food.

Q. What's the worst part of operating a food truck?

A. Finding and hiring employees. It is super hard to find good reliable employees who want to work.

Q. What lessons have you learned since launching the truck?

A. Always, always bring more than enough food so you never run out.

Q. Is there anything you would have done differently at the start?

A. No.

Q. Any advice to others thinking of launching a food truck?

A. Ask a food trucker if you can work on their truck first. Make sure you really like it before you invest money in to it. 

Q. What kind of event and bookings do you do?

A. I get booked at all sorts of events from festivals and catering to kid's birthday parties and even weddings.

About Judy Mottl

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Judy Mottl is editor of Retail Customer Experience and Digital Signage Today. She has decades of experience as a reporter, writer and editor covering technology and business for top media including AOL, InformationWeek, InternetNews and Food Truck Operator.

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