Check out this new food truck in town
Just before 11 a.m. in the parking lot next to Jimmy John’s on Lafayette Street, the three-person team does a meticulously choreographed dance in the tight space of the Round Square Food Truck as they prepare for the lunch crowd.
Todd Yelton is at the grill, and the hiss of a burger hitting the hot surface precedes the delicious smell.
Wes Allen said he and Brady Norman had all worked together in the restaurant business previously and decided to team up to open their own restaurant.
The trio purchased the food truck from T’s Tiny Farm, which recently moved to Railroad Promenade, and had it painted, chosen a name and launched about four weeks ago.
“We’ve all worked together in the restaurant business for about a decade. I’ve been in it for three decades, and we all work well together,” Allen said.
The truck serves burgers, sandwiches, tacos, sides, and drinks.
Sides include grilled green beans, grilled corn, and potato chips.
The focus is on farm-to-truck with beef, pork and other products sourced locally from farms in Bostic and Fallston, Allen said.
One of the most popular items is Rueben.
“Todd makes the best Robin,” Allen said.
They’ve only been open a few weeks, but Allen said they’ve already received positive feedback.
“The feedback is amazing,” he said. “People love customer service, it’s personal. I’ve been in this city my whole life. I have a loyal following.”
They currently serve brunch at a few locations around the county and are also catering at some events.
“Our focus is our lunch audience,” Allen said.
They also hope to eventually cover all areas of the province.
They’re in Shelby a few days a week — either at the Food Lion near Cleveland Community College or next to Jimmy John’s — or in Lawndale on Main Street.
“We’re pretty much closed five days a week,” Allen said. “But we’re looking at Boiling Springs. We’re open to pick-up and move options wherever people support us.”
Allen said the team enjoys running the business. Personally, he likes that they are mobile and can move to different locations.
“You’re out there, and you get to see new faces,” he said. “You’re not locked in a building where you feel like you’re imprisoned.”
He said he enjoys finding ingredients, talking with farmers, seeing how their animals are treated, and then creating a finished product.
All three are artists, he said, and beyond the food art they create, they are all artists in other ways, including musicians and painting.
Allen said the food truck’s name stemmed from their different personalities, and when they started bouncing around different names, they said it was like putting a square peg in a round hole.
He said their mission was simple.
“Spread good food throughout the community,” he said. “Thats all about it.”
People can follow Round Square Food Truck on Facebook and Instagram. Allen said he posts his site every week, usually on Sunday.
