Bridgeport is home to many family businesses. On the food service end, they include Oliverio’s Ristorante and Twin Oaks, among others. And there’s a brand new one in town: Hash Browns & New Grounds.

 

I wrote about the food truck a few weeks ago, just before it made its Bridgeport Farmers Market debut. A 2005 graduate of Bridgeport High School, Cody Thrasher is the founder, owner and chief operator. With the use of local ingredients, he creates quality, upscale menu items and offers them at very affordable prices. From what I hear from BFM President Debbie Workman, HB&NG has created somewhat of a frenzy at the Market on Sundays. The lines are long and the customers are quite satisfied. And the reason the food truck can accommodate so many patrons is that Cody has help – the help of his BHS Indian family. Well, actually, these guys formed a special bond long before they played high school football together.

 

“We all played Pop Warner football together and have been friends our whole lives basically,” said Clint Nuzum about Thrasher, Shawn Adkins and Eric Moccia. “I mean these guys were all groomsmen in my wedding. We are like family.”

 

When Thrasher decided to take the plunge and take his restaurant on the road –ultimately driving it into Bridgeport - his buddies offered their services.

 

“We came together because we wanted to be there to help one of our best friends who is starting something great,” Nuzum said. “We are proud of this. Cody has a great idea and food that we all have eaten many times – and when starting something this ambitious, who better to help than your best friends?”

 

Each Sunday, the guys gather at Bridgeport Farmers Market and do their thing – helping to keep the HB&NG business humming efficiently. And behind the scenes, the football players turned kitchen enthusiasts have “business meetings” - brainstorming on how to streamline the process. Nuzum also helps out with social media and additional business duties and Moccia and Adkins – who have longtime experience with Oliverio’s and Clique Club, respectively (the Clique Club being Adkins’ own family business) – are a really big help on the food service side. Joining the culinary Tribe in the past couple of weeks have been Josh Cook and Kyle Boggs, who – with their own specialty talents – are helping with pregame strategies and helping Thrasher score big with his business.

 

“Cody is just really good at it all but we just try and help where we can, since he is a one man show with no employees as of now,” Nuzum said. “It's Cody's show. We just all like to help and be a part of it.”

 

So far, it’s a winning season. 

 

Read about Hash Browns & New Grounds HERE and follow the venture on Facebook - or on Twitter @ThrasherHBNG. 

 

Find Hash Browns & New Grounds 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays at the Bridgeport Farmers Market, located at Charles Pointe. Keep up to date with Market happenings at Bob Workman's "Let's Get Fresh" blog. 

 

Julie Perine can be reached at 304-848-7200, julie@connect-bridgeport.com or follow @JuliePerine on Twitter. More "It's Happening" HERE