Heavy on barbecue, with a splash of coffee drinks. Try these Galesburg-area food trucks
Food trucks have become increasingly popular among Americans in the last decade, but the craze has yet to pick up steam in Galesburg.
According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of food trucks operating in the United States nearly doubled from 2013 to 2018. However, according to Galesburg City Clerk Kelli Bennewitz, just four businesses — Henn House BBQ, Smokin' Willies, PHAT Belly's BBQ and Dame Fine Coffee — are licensed locally for 2022.
"There's just not many food trucks around here, but honestly, I just think it's the area we are in," said Phil Hennenfent, owner of Henn House BBQ. There's less overhead than a brick and mortar, and obviously, you can go to where the people are. If there's an event, we can go to the people rather than hoping for to people come to you after an event.
"It can work, you just have to be patient."
Here's a look at some of the food trucks that will operate in Galesburg this year, and some of the rules and regulations they must follow.
Henn House BBQ Catering and Food Truck
(309) 335-1671
Henn House BBQ Catering and Food Truck stepped up its game this year, adding a trailer nearly twice the size as its previous food truck, and establishing a home base where customers can find them on a regular basis.
The bright blue Henn House trailer can be found on the north side of the patio area at Reserve Artisan Ales, 185 S. Kellogg St. It will offer dinner on Thursday nights, and lunch and dinner on Fridays and Saturdays.
"We knew we had a good opportunity here at Reserve Artisan Ales," said Hennenfent. "This is going to be our home base Thursday, Friday, Saturdays."
"With our previous truck, we were pretty dependent on fair weather. This was a chance to be more stable in our hours, and, in turn, attract more customers."
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The new Henn House trailer is 28 feet long, has more storage space for food, has a separate area for cooking and is air-conditioned.
Phil and Johanna Hennenfent started Henn House BBQ in 2014 and went full-time with the business, including a food truck, in 2017. In 2020, the Altona-based caterer emerged as the champion in Pulled Pork Madness, a contest sponsored by the Illinois Pork Producers Association to determine who serves the best pulled pork in the state.
Hennenfent said Henn House will add some new menu items this summer, including a cheese steak sandwich and a grilled tenderloin.
"Our menu will change often," Hennenfent said. "We'll have our same menu staples that people come to see us for. But we now have a flat top we can cook on, so we can do cheese steaks, and those went over extremely well.
"And because we're at a brewery, we've tried a bourbon chicken sandwich which went over very well."
Smokin' Willies BBQ
(309) 368-9099
Smokin' Willies BBQ, operated by Wayland Cunningham and Tania Gibbs, has had a food truck for six years. They are home-based out of Cedar Creek East, 571 E. North St.
They have operated at large events such as the Great Galesburg Balloon Race and River-2-River Car Show.
Appearances by the Smokin' Willies food truck can be found on its Facebook page. They also appear at weddings, businesses, community events and private events.
More: Here is the Best of the Best barbecue in Knox County as voted on by readers in 2021
Dame Fine Coffee
(309) 371-7974
The Monmouth-based coffee shop is operating temporarily from a mobile unit at 1819 N. Henderson St., site of the former Southard's Car Wash and the future Extreme Car Wash. It is located between the former car wash and the lot which was home to the Rib Shack. Customers are able to drive through and place orders on both sides of the trailer.
Dillan Vancil, owner of Dame Fine Coffee, said his company will eventually lease two permanent structures at the sites of Extreme Car Wash on Henderson St. and at 1720 E. Main St.
Offering a variety of variety of coffee drinks, Rockstar Energy-based drinks and organic energy drinks, Dame Fine is open from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
More: Here is the Best of the Best local coffee shop in Knox County as voted on by readers in 2021
The Watering Hole at Oak Run
(309) 879-2155
The Watering Hole is new to the food truck scene, having purchased its unit this past winter.
"Thus far we have events scheduled around the lake community at Oak Run," said The Watering Hole general manager Andrew Keener. "We intend to set up at the beaches and boat ramps on weekends to capture some of the business that otherwise would not come up to the restaurant in their swimming suits."
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Keener said The Watering Hole food truck will appear at Reserve Artisan Ales, 185 S. Kellogg St. in Galesburg, at various times this summer. He said they hope to expand the food truck into a full-fledged operation as staffing allows.
The Watering Hole will announce food truck offerings on its various social media platforms, including Instagram and Facebook.
Kenner said he's excited about the future of The Watering Hole food truck business.
"So far we haven’t been involved enough to determine the overall climate for food trucks in our area," Keener said." I think that if you prepare excellent food, there will be a demand for it no matter what medium with which you distribute it.
"I am encouraged by businesses such as Reserve Artisan Ales setting up spaces for food trucks to operate and to attract organic business."
PHAT Belly's BBQ
(309) 351-4912
Like The Watering Hole, Gerlaw-based PHAT Belly's BBQ is new to the street food business, and just recently acquired its license to serve in Galesburg. The business is operated by Keith and Hidi Patrick.
PHAT Belly BBQ offers ribs, pulled pork, brisket, pork chops and brats, with mac and cheese, and smoked baked beans as sides.
"Right now, it's a tent set up," Keith Patrick said. "I smoke my food on site, it's all made the same day, and we serve right off the grill, so it's hot and fresh."
"A lot of what makes us different is wood selection. A lot of people use hickory, and that can be too strong for some people. So I use ash, just a little bit of hickory. And I make my own rub."
Hidi added, "As you can tell, he has a real passion for barbecue."
PHAT Belly BBQ will announce upcoming appearances on its Facebook page.
"Since I'm new to the game, I don't want to knock down the door and step on people's toes," Keith said. "I have mad love for any small business in Galesburg, and I'm a big fan of other barbecue places in town. I have a lot of love for the pitmasters in Galesburg.
"My schedule is not packed because I don't want to swim over my head."
Hidi added, "We'll set up here and there and be at any major events."
Johnson's Smokehouse
(309) 351-2433
Abingdon-based Johnson's Smokehouse is seeking licensing to operate in Galesburg, but so far is selling barbecue in Abingdon and Monmouth.
Johnson's Smokehouse owner Kale Johnson said they prepare the food in Abingdon and just started selling out of a food truck last month.
"We're just starting out, but I have all kind of ideas," Johnson said. "People really liked my pulled pork. And one of my popular items is the bacon-wrapped meatloaf on a stick."
Johnson's also offers ribs, brats, smoke jalapenos and a pork chop sandwich, and the sides include potato salad, macaroni salad, cole slaw and baked beans.
No more dogs
One of Galesburg's original food trucks/carts, Grandpa's Hot Dog Cart operated by Beverly and JR Bledsoe, has decided to call it quits — at least for now.
"We sold the cart to a local person and they have decided they don't want to do it," Beverly Bledsoe said. "My hubby would love to buy it back, but I honestly think it's time to retire. After 45 years in food concessions, we aren't getting younger."
Rules and regulations for Galesburg food trucks/carts
The city of Galesburg drafted regulations to allow food trucks to operate on city property in 2017. Administration met with both food truck operators and restaurant owners to discuss a regulatory system, including appropriate locations for food truck zones.
These zones include streets, parking lots and parks. As they have in the past, licensed food trucks can operate on private property.
Ice cream trucks continue to be regulated as transient merchants in order to reflect the unique nature of their mobile sales model.
In terms of public safety, the food truck operators must receive a food sanitation license from the Knox County Health Department. In addition, they must comply with NFPA 96, which deals with fire prevention and ventilation controls for commercial cooking. Finally, the food truck operators must comply with all local, state and federal laws, which include traffic safety, cleanliness and orderly operations of their site.
Food truck zones in Galesburg
Here is a list of food truck zones in Galesburg:
Street zones
South Cedar Street between South Street and Tompkins Street.
West Tompkins Street between South Cedar Street and South Cherry Street.
South Cherry Street between South Street and Tompkins Street.
The parking spaces surrounding the Public Square.
Public Parking Lots
235 E. Simmons St. (Parking Lot H) only after 8 p.m.
125 N. Broad St. (Parking Lot G)
The following city parks from park opening until closing
1351 S. Lake Storey Road (Lake Storey Allison Campground)
Lake Storey Joe E. Anderson Area
524 Treadwell Drive (Lincoln Park Horseshoe parking lot)
1627 W. Losey St. (Rotary Park)
2191 E. Knox St. (Kiwanis Park)
1285 W. Carl Sandburg Dr. (Inbinder Park)
The following city parks from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday
1235 E. Losey St. (O.N. Custer Park)
626 E. Fifth St. (H.T. Custer Park)
This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: Food trucks in Galesburg, IL offer a lot of barbecue, coffee and more
