Fully Loadit is one of the latest food trucks to roll through Jefferson City, offering its own personality and a selection of food for every potato fan.
The food truck offers potato-based dishes made to suit both vegetarians and meat lovers, from potatoes loaded with bacon and cheddar or shrimp and cheesy whole potatoes to a Philly cheesesteak dish, beef nachos and more. The menu includes plenty of options for customers looking to lose weight as well as those in search of the perfect savory meal.
The idea for the business came to owner Dorothy Stephenson while she was working in the Truman State Office Building and saw how popular the starchy food was in the cafeteria. She said the business launched after she learned more about the health benefits and wide variety of options for potato-based cuisine, putting her ample cooking experience to good use.
"I started wondering how I could share all of the great things you can do with potatoes, and that's where Fully Loadit came into being," Stephenson said. "I want to teach people that they can use them in a beneficial way while still reaching out to all of the foodies out there."
Originally from Chicago, Stephenson said the Jefferson City area presented a great opportunity to start a business with the support and enthusiasm of the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce and the Minority Business Council of Jefferson City -- not to mention the welcoming food truck community the area has to offer.
While the new business is just getting started, word of mouth about the food and the service behind it have been spreading, she said. She had help through the summer from her two youngest children, one of whom also helps write out the day's menu and drew the truck's logo, which is taking the place of a traditional wrap for the trailer for the moment. While her truck might not look like the others around town yet, she said working alongside her children gave her the chance to teach them the value of hard work and persistence.
"It speaks to who we are and that we started this as a family-owned business," Stephenson said. "I've been through a lot, but I want to be able to build this up and show my kids that you can be successful if you don't give up. They're excited about this, and so am I."
Follow Fully Loadit LLC on Facebook to see where it's headed next, or reach out by phone at 573-542-0770 or through email at [email protected].