CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A lot of the vendors credit the Black Food Truck Friday event for keeping them going during the pandemic. Show
Some opened as the pandemic started and owners say they would have closed their businesses for good and seen their dream turn into a nightmare if not for the event. Close to a dozen food vendors, all with different flavors gather in West Charlotte. Each with a similar story to tell about the pandemic. “I closed down for about 11 months,” said Jorieka Downey. “It was really bad,” added Joseph Brewster. “Me with four kids and my wife. It was just a struggle for us until I started this.” Jorieka Downey, owner of Grits CLT, and Joseph Brewster, owner of Island Boys Hand crafted sandwiches opened their food trucks during the pandemic. Downey operated out of a tent at first when joining the Black Business Owners of Charlotte event in 2019. 📲 Download the Queen City News app to sty updated on the go. BBOC is a nonprofit holding Black Food Truck Fridays to help businesses stay open, and not only put food on other peoples’ tables, but on their own. “We actually tried to do as many events as we could,” said Cathay Dawkins, founder, and executive director of Black Business Owners of Charlotte. “We still hosted 21 events last year during the height of COVID.” This year the event kicks off with a contest, Crowning QC’s Best Black Food Truck. Duke’s Mayo is sponsoring four Fridays where chefs compete, and customers vote for the favorite. The final battle is the Friday before the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, in September. The winner gets $6,000, second place $2,000, and third place gets $500. “I express myself through my meals,” says Brewster. “And I think that’s what helped me propel myself to where I am at today.” Downey says the events helped her so much she is no longer a tent vendor. She bought a brand-new truck and trailer to serve up grits and other items. “It took me about six months to a year,” added Downey. “Then I reopened May 15th of last year with Grits CLT food truck.” “Food always circles,” says Brewster. “You always got to come back to it. You got to eat right; you’ve got to eat.” Organizers tell Queen City News vendors make between $5,000 and $10,000 each week. For more information on the next three food truck battles, click here. Let’s celebrate the chefs and neighborhoods that makeup Charlotte’s culinary scene during Charlotte SHOUT!Coming April 15-16, 2023Hosted by:  In Partnership with: About the FestivalCelebrate Charlotte’s food and beverage scene with us next Spring! The event will return as part of Charlotte SHOUT! April 2023. Sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on all events. Interested in becoming a vendor or sponsor? Fill out our online form here. We have so much local talent here and we loved showing them off. Check out pictures from last year’s event below. Photo credit: Grant Baldwin Photography. Sign Up for Our NewsletterWant to be the first to know about all the things going on at Charlotte StrEATs? Sign up for our newsletter.Enter your email address to subscribe Restaurants and Food TrucksChefs from some of the most iconic Charlotte restaurants and food trucks were on hand at the inaugural event to share tastes of their menus. Are you a restaurant that wants to be involved in the 2023 event? Fill out our Restaurant Application Form below. THANK YOU We appreciate everyone who came to support us at the Fall 2022 Black Food Truck Festival.YOU VOTED & THE RESULTS ARE IN!Voted Crowd’s Favoritefor the second consecutive season is MR. B’s ON THE GOmrbsonthegollc.com
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Black food truck friday charlotte 2023
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