It’s been less than three months since Tyson and Suzanne Oakman opened Smokin’ Bear BBQ on Main Street. And in that short time, they have already had to make a major business decision due to issues with their food.

 

For those thinking the issue in question is a problem, it’s far from it. In fact, what the owners of Smokin’ Bear BBQ have addressed is something any business owner would want coming out of the gate.

 

They’ve grown fast enough early on and have ran out of food due to demand multiple times that a second location is already in business. For those wanting to know where, here’s the answer.

 

Just about anywhere in the region.

 

While that may seem like an elusive answer, it’s not. Last week and into this past week, Smokin’ Bear BBQ launched a brand new food truck business and set up operations in a lot beside the former Grandma’s House Furniture store in Nutter Fort.

 

“We didn’t even think about doing this until the business was up and running,” said Tyson. “One of the things we kept hearing was people couldn’t get to the restaurant. We said if they can’t get to the restaurant then we’ll bring the restaurant to them.”

 

Thus, the food truck concept was born. To prepare the main courses at the restaurant, Smokin’ Bear needs more than 10 hours and because of that once the meat is gone for the day, it’s gone. Thus, the closing time varies and on a particularly busy day someone coming from out of the area may arrive to a closed operation. The majority of barbeque restaurants across the nation operate on the same premise.

 

Now, other communities will have the service brought to them. While the concept was nice and the turnaround for a new business only a few months old is impressive, Oakman admits it was a challenge.

 

“There were a combination of things we faced that made it a challenge. Food trucks are expensive and we wanted to find a good one and we feel pretty good about the one we purchased,” said Oakman.

 

The new truck was purchased in Charleston. It’s a food truck the workers locally changed around that was originally a 2004 Nickles Bread truck.

 

“It was already outfitted as a food truck, but we had to make changes for our needs and put the wrap on the truck as well. We actually turned it over in about 10 days,” said Tyson. “The fun part was we were making this truck usable for us to do what we love, but it took a lot of man hours between working on it and running the restaurant. There were a lot of 18 and 20 hour days put in.”

 

The work is already paying off. Oakman said they’ve sold out several times, including more than 160 sandwiches. On Sunday, at the same Nutter Fort location, nearly 90 sandwiches were sold.

 

“We’re pretty basic out of the truck with our offerings. We have the puled pork sandwich, a brisket sandwich or the ‘Oakster,’ which a combination of both and they all can be topped with onions, pickles and coleslaw,” he said. “We’re also selling ribs and all of our sides that include smoked bake beans, coleslaw, potato salad and macaroni and cheese.”

 

The truck is working, he believes, because people like the product and find it affordable. He said the busy time during lunch sees them offer a sandwich for $8 and a sandwich and a choice of a side for $8. The truck opens at 10 a.m. goes until the evening hours or until they run out of product.

 

That may lead people to believe where they are next. Right now, Oakman said they will be staying in the existing location in Nutter Fort. In short order, they hope to be headed out to other counties. The issue with that is that the food truck has to be seen by a health inspector in every county.

 

“That’s the only challenge we’re facing, but once cleared we’re going to really be on the road. We’ll be in Harrison, Marion, Doddridge, Lewis Monongalia and Ritchie,” said Oakman.

 

Already, Oakman is meeting with the plant manager at the Simonton plant in Ritchie County where a huge work force, he said, will be waiting. And he’ll have it at the upcoming family day for the local FBI CJIS facility.

 

None of the success and the chance to expand so early would have been possible without the customers, Oakman is beyond pleased with the response Smokin’ Bear has received.

 

“The community means everything to us because without the support we wouldn’t be able to do what we do and that’s provide that same community with a quality product,” said Oakman. “Doing this work is our oxygen and the community keeps that oxygen going. We’re well into June and we’re seeing what we want to see and that’s a lot of first-time customers, a lot of repeat customers and more and more regulars. The support truly is humbling and we hope to keep doing what we’re doing for a long time here and with our food truck.”