Rockford food truck rebuilds with donations after attack by thieves
The owner of a popular Rockford food truck is back in business after thieves stole $7,000 worth of equipment back in November.
Bob Christidis, owner of The Olive Branch food truck, took the equipment — pots, pans, a deep fryer, a gyro-meat slicer, oven grates — out of the truck Nov. 13 and placed it next to his house while he ran the truck to a mechanic for repairs.
He returned home a few hours later to find the items missing.
“I had the stuff sitting on the side of my home, which I always do,” Christidis said. “It was covered up with a tarp.”
After unsuccessfully contacting police, local scrap yards, pawnshops and contacts in the restaurant industry, Christidis started a GoFundMe campaign.
So far, he’s raised enough to purchase a used deep fryer and some basic equipment that’s allowed him to stay in business.
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“If we didn’t have the customers, we’d be dead in the water,” Christidis said. “They’ve helped us. They are our business.”
The Olive Branch’s fundraising campaign has raised more than $3,000 since Nov. 15.
“It’s heartwarming,” Christidis said. "A lot of people have been supporting us. It’s hard to believe how many people have helped us with the GoFundMe and just with our business. The following is awesome. It’s what gotten us through these last seven years.”
The Olive Branch is winding down for the season. Christidis plans to move the operation into the kitchen at Carlson Ice Arena for the winter.
“It’s something new this year,” he said.
The food truck is currently open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday and Friday in the Carlson parking lot, 4150 N. Perryville Road, Loves Park.
Christidis plans to open inside the arena after the first of the year.
Jim Hagerty covers business, growth and development and other general news topics for the Rockford Register Star. Email him at jhagerty@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford Olive Branch back in business after theft
