Construction on a new Break Time truck stop in Jefferson City began in May and is expected to be finished by mid-November.
The truck stop, located at 207 Militia Drive off the U.S. 50 interchange, will be the eighth local store for Columbia-based MFA Oil, which owns the 6,500-square-foot truck stop. It will feature a laundry unit, lounge space, showers and free Wi-Fi for truckers. There will be 50 standard parking spots in front of the store and larger parking spaces for truck and trailer customers in the back.
"We are excited to get this off the ground and going," said MFA Oil public specialist Adam Buckallew. "This area is an ideal site for the store with lots of traffic and a good community."
The store will feature food options like the company's "famous" Smokestack Barbecue, the Eldon-based Ice Cream Factory ice cream and fried chicken. It will also have other grab-and-go items and retail offerings.
Break Time has stores at 1200 Missouri Blvd., 810 Stadium Blvd., 1940 W. Main St., 3000 W. Truman Blvd., 326 Ellis Blvd., 1907 E. McCarty St., and 8314 Liberty Road.
Drakes Smokehouse takes next step
Going from a pop-up tent to a food truck, Drakes Smokehouse is coming in hot with fresh-cooked smoked meats, popular sides and strong family ties.
Drakes Smokehouse is co-owned by Marine Corps veteran Frank Drake and Shauna Holtgrewe. The business started small, operating under a tent and using one smoker at local events until they purchased their food truck in February.
The team grew up helping family members inside the kitchen and learned that good food brings people together.
"I watched my grandfather smoke a brisket, and now I've been cooking brisket for 20 years," Drake said.
Holtgrewe recalls helping her grandmother.
"Her cooking method was a little bit of this and a pinch of that -- I now include that method in my cooking, and it works," she said.
Drakes sells its "famous" brisket, burnt ends, pulled pork and more. Everything is smoked in an all-wood, live-fire smoker.
"Our sides are stepping up; we have smoked mac and cheese, brisket loaded beans and coleslaw, plus a few more," Holtgrewe said.
"We are loving the food truck life," Drake added. "We have the freedom to be our bosses and travel to new areas -- we have learned a lot and will continue to learn, but we are proud of how far we've made it."
Throughout winter, when food truck season slows down, Drake and Holtgrewe hope to research and think of new ideas to expand their sides menu. They get inspired by cooking shows and family recipes.
Drakes Smokehouse caters, and can be reached on Facebook at the Drakes Smokehouse page or by phone at 573-469-2119.
Know of any business happenings around Jefferson City? Let us know at [email protected] or 573-761-0244.
Tara Espinoza/News Tribune Co-owners Shauna Holtgrewe and Frank Drake grew up helping family members in the kitchen and turned that passion into a business. The pair started selling food at local events and worked their way up to owning a food truck.
Tara Espinoza/News Tribune Everything on the Drakes Smokehouse food truck was built and remodeled by Frank Drake and Shauna Holtgrewe. The smoker that is used was constructed by Drake and his grandfather.
Tara Espinoza/News Tribune Frank Drake shows off the "very popular" smoked brisket served by Drakes Smokehouse. The brisket is smoked for hours on an all-wood, live-fire smoker.