Business notebook: 573 Food Truck reopens for season

As a chef in a traditional restaurant, Jared Houchins found he was disconnected from his diners. He didn't have a rapport with the diners. Fine dining and working for other people lost its appeal.

"I got real tired of it," Houchins said. "I decided to do something I loved and thought other people would enjoy and have a fun experience with."

So Houchins started 573 Food Truck.

The white truck with the round logo and chalkboard menu makes appearances throughout the area, serving tacos, sandwiches and street corn.

The truck made its debut at the 2015 SEMO District Fair.

Jared Houchins, owner of 573 Food Truck, chats with a customer while manning the grill Tuesday at The Bank of Missouri parking lot on North Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau.Laura Simon

"It was a nice trial by fire," Houchins said.

After the fair, Houchins ran the truck for a few months before closing for the winter. On March 1, the 573 was back in business for the 2016 season.

Each week, on the company Facebook page, Houchins posts his itinerary. He usually sets up shop in the parking lots of local businesses.

"What we do is we look for different businesses that want to partner with us," Houchins said. "A lot of people we talk to don't have time for lunch, so it's nice for them to be able to have a place that's right outside their doors."

The relationship between the food truck and business is mutually beneficial. Houchins has a welcoming place to set up shop, and the business gets foot traffic they might not have had otherwise.

Chicken tacos with cilantro lime slaw are prepared for a customer of 573 Food Truck, Tuesday, March 1, 2016, at The Bank of Missouri parking lot on North Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau.Laura Simon

Houchins makes sure to keep locations varied. He doesn't want to create competition with other restaurants in the area, only to make an occasional appearance.

"I'm not there more than once a week, so I'm not taking money away from other businesses or restaurants to where I'm smothering them. And that's a big part of it. ... I want to be able to coexist with the people," Houchins said.

The benefits of owning a food truck rather than a brick-and-mortar restaurant are many. Low overhead and fewer costs made this method more feasible.

"Trying to come up with a half a million dollars to start a restaurant was not in the works," Houchins said.

In addition, what appealed to Houchins was there's nothing else like 573 in the area right now, and he has been able to create customer relationships he was unable to foster in previous positions.

Houchins plans to expand the offerings of 573 Food Truck beyond the parking lots of local businesses into catering weddings and parties.

"It helps break the stereotype of two proteins, a starch, a veggie and a dinner roll," Houchins said.

Already he has several events planned, along with a busy schedule of appearances around town.

"Hopefully, this will be more of a year-round gig for me," Houchins said.

Veterans offered business training

From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 19, the U.S. Small Business Administration will offer a training program for veterans interested in owning their own business.

The Boots to Business Reboot is a two-part program providing veterans and their spouses with an overview of business ownership as a vocation, an understanding of the components of a business plan and an introduction to available public and private sector resources.

Registration for the event is required. Visit boots2business.org/reboot/ to register.

Cape Honda wins President's Award

Cape Girardeau Honda has been awarded the 2015 Honda President's Award.

Cape Girardeau Honda has received this award six years in a row and seven times overall. The President's Award is presented to dealerships that demonstrate excellence in operations, customer satisfaction, service and sales.

Of Honda's 1,048 participating dealerships, only 125 received the 2015 award, Cape Girardeau Honda is one of three Missouri dealerships to win the award seven times. Chris Brown, general manager of Cape Girardeau Honda, credits dealership employees for the success.

Lindeman gets Mondi Jackson honor

Mondi Jackson LLC recently named customer account coordinator Tammy Lindeman of Scott City as its March employee of the month. Lindeman has been with the company since 2012.

Mondi also recognized these employee anniversaries:

25 years: Roberta LeGrand, Michael Wiley, Mark Gum, Delores Gable, Daniel Kinsey, Rodney Starkey and Thomas Kern.

10 years: John Bourland, Steven Mueller

Business licenses

• Cedar, 22 Broadway, is a garden-center sales business owned by Ethan Hochstein. The anticipated opening date is March 19.
• Zazzy Fashion House, 135 N. Main St., is a clothing and accessories store owned by Nathalee Williams. The anticipated opening date is Friday.

bbrown@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630