A BBQ food truck is coming to Oostburg. What to know about its opening, owner's mission to help others through food.
OOSTBURG - As Heavy Smoker BBQ owner Kevin Ludens shares the story of his new business, he points out the Bible verses “Luke 3:10-11" applied in black vinyl on the side of the food truck.
He said the verses' message — which calls on those with more to share with those with less — is the center of his business; Kevin's mission is to help others with his food.
“It's my goal to bless people with this and to bring honor and glory to God because God really is how this started,” Kevin said.
Curating his own BBQ style
No one else in Kevin’s family barbecues, so he taught himself from watching YouTube videos and smoking meat at home.
He initially gave the food he made away. A few times, he drove with a hundred pounds of pork to his friend’s food pantry in the Chicago area.
Then he used kitchen space out of the Breaking Bread Banquet Hall to venture into catering. After a year, he decided to open a food truck.
He has curated his own “Heavy Smoker” flavors but would say he barbecues along Carolina or Texas styles, rather than Memphis style.
Family cheers on new food truck venture
Through the process, Kevin said he has learned he couldn’t have started Heavy Smoker BBQ without the help of others.
Kevin said his brother Phil’s help has been a “blessing,” offering help and advice along the way. They also competed in BBQ competitions together last year, placing seventh out of 33 teams at the Frozen Bone Ribs competition and participating in the Masters in May BBQ competition near Wisconsin Rapids.
“He's one of the most selfless people I know,” Kevin said of his brother.
Kevin's wife Jennifer has also been his biggest supporter from the start.
“It is because of her example of how to be a servant, be generous and love everyone that I have become the man I am today,” he said.
Hopes to go full-time, add more trucks
Kevin said he plans for Heavy Smoker BBQ to park locally in Oostburg, possibly at places like Veterans Park and Piggly Wiggly, with hopes to go further, maybe into Sheboygan.
A lot of what Heavy Smoker BBQ can do depends on Kevin and Phil’s schedules because they both work full-time — Kevin at Oostburg Concrete and Phil at Masters Gallery Foods.
One day, though, Kevin envisions the food truck developing into a full-time job, maybe even a family business.
“I'd love to see a couple of trucks,” he said. “We can work as a family.”
Sign up for the Streetwise newsletter Click here to get all the business openings and closings news right in your inbox
Grand opening at Oostburg’s Shell Gas Station on April 29
Heavy Smokers BBQ will host its grand opening at the Shell Gas Station, 1039 Center Ave., on April 29. It’ll be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. or until all its food sells out.
Saturday menu includes brisket, ribs and cheesy potatoes
Heavy Smoker BBQ's weekend menu will include brisket, pulled pork, ribs, cheesy potatoes, Heavy Smoker baked beans and coleslaw.
All meat will be available on sandwiches or by the pound.
More about Heavy Smoker BBQ can be found on Facebook. The food truck can be contacted at 920-980-7311 and heavysmokerbbq@gmail.com.
More: Sheboygan's newest Asian restaurant Nyob Zoo Cafe shares family's favorite cuisine
Contact Alex Garner at 224-374-2332 or agarner@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @alexx_garner.
This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Oostburg's Heavy Smoker BBQ food truck opening soon
