THE IDEA
Twenty years after working together as servers, Steffan Block and Jon Fritzen found themselves reunited in the same Bloomington, Illinois restaurant where they first met. An affable, energetic Brit, Steff was running the front of the house while Jon, a self-taught food enthusiast, was honing his craft in the kitchen. Steff (doing nothing to combat cultural stereotypes) had long had his eye on a classic English double-decker bus. Jon had been toying with the idea of a gourmet food truck for years. Quicker than you can say ‘bloody hell!’, the idea for Two Blokes and a Bus was born.
COMMUNITY
We know that launching a business on any scale is never achieved without the involvement of the surrounding community. Still in the preliminary stages of planning, we’ve been working with local high school students through a CAD program to create plans for the build-out of our bus. Our amazing experience with these talented, eager young people has strengthened our resolve to draw on community resources whenever possible. Yes we’d like to change the world – but we’d like to do it from our own backyard.
THE CONCEPT
Bloomington has the greatest number of restaurants per capita in the United States. That may sound like an Epicurean’s dream – but only until you take a good look at the topography of our little burg. Overrun by the bland and featureless figures, Bloomington is a study in gastronomic conformity. For the growing segment of the population that craves artisanal, organic and, most importantly, sustainable, local fare – the options are woefully few.
That’s where we hope to come in. We’d like to offer EVERYONE the choice of wholesome, well-prepared food that will delight the taste buds and spark the imagination without breaking the bank. By drawing from our rich agricultural roots and contracting with local producers whenever possible, we’ll provide good food at a low cost, democratizing access to quality fare and hopefully catalyzing a change in taste along the way.
Street food has been a vibrant aspect of culture throughout history. In countries around the world, people from all walks of life are fueled by tasty, inexpensive bites from market stalls, carts and roadside stands
ITS ABOUT THE FOOD
YOUR FUNDING WILL ASSIST
Our personal investment so far has brought us close, very close. We bought the bus, housed her, got her running, secured legal assistance and insurance, collaborated with a website developer,graphic designer, and photographer. Painstakingly rebuilt Victoria's interior, acquired liquid propane tanks, charbroiler, and much more.
Your support will assist these much needed purchases:
Exhaust Hood
Flattop griddle
Fryer
Refrigeration for bus and commissary
Generator
Freezer
3 basin sink
Water tanks and pump
WE CAN'T WAIT TO MEET YOU
Photo Credit: Karen Hanrahan
Questions about this project? Check out the FAQ
Support
Funding period
- (30 days)