Today we’d like to introduce you to Tan Bowers.
Tan, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
The Atlanta Food Truck Park (AFTP) started in 2011 and launched as Atl’s first and only Food Truck Park. At that time, there were very few food trucks in Atlanta and the business venture was risky to say the least.
By 2014, Food Trucks were the fastest-growing small business segment in the state and the AFTP was a huge part of that, all the top local food trucks started and made a name for themselves at the park; WOW! Food Truck, Yumbii, Happy Belly, One Love, Crepe Suzette, Mighty Meatballs, GrilldaBeast, Patty Wagon, Masala Fresh, just to name a few. There was nothing like AFTP in the Southeast and people flocked for miles away to experience Atl’s new food truck scene. It was exciting to see so many small businesses flourish. Many relocating to Atlanta to join the industry. In 2016, things shifted. Food trucks were closing at an alarming rate, some migrating to brick and mortar and others closing for good. New trucks were still emerging but not with the chef component that was a norm with trucks that launched from 2012-2015. I began to pray about next steps and how best to continue growing this concept. Things get old pretty quickly in Atlanta and I wasn’t sure how to refresh the brand.
In 2017, I purchased a 24ft juice bar and salad trailer (Fresh 22) and was determined to make eating healthy street food more desirable. Truth is, at that time people just didn’t correlate healthy with food trucks. They came to AFTP to cheat, not maintain a strict diet. Meanwhile, I began to make healthier changes in my own eating habits; I adopted a Pescatarian diet for 6 months and from there directly into a Vegan lifestyle. By the end of of 2017, I knew that I wanted to rebrand the park as a Vegan/Vegetarian Park but at that time there weren’t many vegan food trucks.
Then came Slutty Vegan, who most know utilized the AFTP as their primary location during their start up in 2018. Thanks to Pinky Cole – owner of Slutty Vegan, eating healthy became sexy almost overnight. Vegan became the new trend and I was elated. I was ready to rebrand the park, a concept that by then had been in my head for over a year. Rebranding was risky, but I believed it would be successful.
In May 2019, I launched VEGANish ATL, a Vegan Block Party. My strategy was to create a vegan only event before completely rebranding the park. The event would help me access Atlanta’s interest and support for an event that contained zero meat products. I was floored at the outpouring of support for the VEGANish ATL events. The event quickly became one of the largest Atl recurring vegan events.
And so it was, with the launch of VEGANish ATL, the AFTP unofficially became a Vegan/Vegetarian Food Truck Park. We continued our booking service for all trucks at locations outside the park. But 1850 Howell Mill Rd was a Vegan/Vegetarian experience.
A large two day Season Opener event was planned for Mar 28-29, 2020 to officially launch the rebranding and then CoVid hit. The event like all large events across the country, had to be cancelled. But we didn’t miss a beat. We have from day one been a platform for small businesses and we weren’t going to quit on them. Executive orders from the city and state mandated take out only and set social distancing as the new norm. All while the demand for healthy food and wellness options were at an all time high. The AFTP became the ideal location for a Vegan Curbside Grab ‘N Go. We opened for 3hrs on Sat & Sun. Yet, our vendors were selling out 100% every single weekend.
Then the state reopened and requirements are a bit more relaxed, allowing us to open things up a bit. We now allow dine in options, onsite parking and more vendors. Our location is 4 acres, open air dining with limited touch points and enables us to easily meet city/state guidelines.
As an Electrical Engineering graduate from Tuskegee University, with an MBA from RPI, I never thought my Aerospace career would lead me to being a food truck park owner. I started my first business in 1996, so I’m not new to entrepreneurship, but a food business was not in my plans. Now, I have the park, two food trucks in Atlanta and one in Texas. Plus, a non-related business (yep, the same one I started in 1996). I’m grateful to own a business that serves as a platform for other businesses. Now it’s not without its challenges. Dealing with lots of first-time businesses in their infancy state is not for the faint, but its rewarding to see their growth and to know that AFTP is fertile ground for so many.
COVID is expected to worsen this winter and none of us know what the future holds, but I do know who holds my future and in that I am confident. We are the first and only Vegan/Vegetarian Food Truck Park in the US. We are Black female-owned and we have a record of leading the pack, paving the way for others and taking care of our community. I hope to accomplish many more firsts but meanwhile, I am thankful to be making history, leaving a legacy that will outlive me. That’s the whole point, right?
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Entrepreneurship and a smooth road really shouldn’t be used in the same sentence… laugh out loud. To be honest, being a trailblazer is hard. It means that you have to navigate your own way, there isnt a blueprint or compass for you to follow. Your on unchartered territory and that takes a skill and tenacity that most dont realize.
So no, things havent been easy. But I dont know that I expected them to be. Passion is definitely not enough. You must be open to learning and relearning. Totally ok with being outside your comfort zone and determined to stay the course. You must set standards and hold yourself and others to them. You must manage your business…nothing runs itself, but in the ground. You must protect your business from people who dismiss your standards and are a liability to your growth.
This journey hasnt been easy. But it has been so worth it…so rewarding…so necessary. When we align with our purpose the telltale sign is that it blesses others as much or more than it blesses you.
Entreprenuership is powerful. When you can be a conduit for the success of others, its worth every challenge you face.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Atlanta Food Truck Park – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We are forerunners and that’s what sets us apart from others.
In 2011, we became the first and only Food Truck Park in Atlanta for nine years until a second opened.
In 2019, we became the first and only Vegan/Vegetarian Food Truck Park in the US.
We are genuinely concerned with fostering small business success. We work with our vendors on new menu ideas, suggestions for a better appearance, standards for on time arrival and preparedness. We are a conduit for their success and growth. We are most proud of a long line of small businesses that have launched and grown their Food Truck, catering and retail business right here with us. We have been blessed time after time to lead the pack and pave the way for others. For that, we are most grateful. We are making a difference and that makes us proud.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Lots of changes ahead. But for now, we are happy to give our vendors and customers the unique experience of the first and only Vegan/Vegetarian Food Truck Park.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1850 Howell Mill Rd Atlanta GA 30318
- Email: veganishatl@gmail.com
- Instagram: @AtlFoodTruckPark
- Facebook: @AtlantaFoodTruckPark
- Other: Atlanta Food Truck Park
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