Son helps Mom realize dream with new food truck
Mrs. Vernie's Food Truck is now open in Caldwell.
The business is co-owned by Vernie Brown and her son, Steven Brown.
Steven Brown said owning and operating a restaurant has been his mother’s lifelong dream and he decided it was time to make that dream a reality.
"She has wanted to do this ever since I was a little boy," said Brown. "She has always wanted to run her own restaurant, so we decided to go ahead and pull the trigger on it. I was watching her work at Dollar General and she was working so hard slinging freight and trying to get out of the floor. I just thought it was time."
According to Brown, Mrs. Vernie worked for two wellknown eating establishments, totaling over 30 years in the food industry.
She worked at Greg and Jim’s for over 20 years and at Byrd’s Grocery for nine years. She knew how to do everything, she just never ran the show,” said Brown.
“She was in there patting patties the other day and told me that it was the way Mrs. Hazel at Greg and Jim’s taught her how to do it."
Brown said it has taken time to get the business up and running, but they’re open now and serving customers.
"I found the trailer in South Carolina, and Jaci and I drove there to pick it up. We have slowly been putting it together," said Brown. "Of course, with Covid, everything was on back order so it took some months to
(Continued from Page 1) get everything in, but we are finally open.”
The business is open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., serving breakfast items as well as burgers, fries, corn dogs, chicken strips and grilled cheese sandwiches.
"The homemade fry idea came from Shane Dallas," said Brown. "What we do, is when an order for fries is placed, we clean and slice a fresh potato and throw it into the fryer. Every order of fries is made fresh the moment the order is placed.
Brown is hoping to add items to the menu as the business grows.
“We are working on milkshakes. We just got the machine installed so we are working to get the consistency just right before selling them, but they will be available soon. We have an old school milkshake machine and we are just starting off with milkshakes and ice cream in a cone or a cup.
"Mom just loves waiting on people and feeding people,” said Brown. “I will say that I tell people that if they wonder if her food is any good, to look at her two sons."
Brown said the easiest way for customers to receive their meals is to call and place their orders ahead of time, by calling 870-3183480, especially if it is a large order.
"Our menu can be found on our Facebook page," said Brown. "We are very excited to have this opportunity. I worked in there one day and realized they were way past me. We have family working in there. I told Mom to go in there and be herself and cook the way she knows how, and we have been very happy with the turnout.