Taco truck brings some sunshine to the snow of northwest Michigan this winter

There's a new Mexican-inspired eating establishment in Boyne City, but you won't fit it in a downtown storefront. Northwestern Michigan natives Drake Nagel and Drue Wright of the newly-launched Happy's Taco Shop are embracing the nascent food truck trend and bringing their culinary creations to wherever their fans may be.

 

Although it's only been serving fresh, handmade tacos for a couple weeks, it's apparent Happy's has the hallmark of any successful business--a clear vision. After meeting at Northern Michigan University, its young owners sought a way to give back to their home region without compromising their principles.

 

"We both grew up in northern Michigan and have a great appreciation for all that it has to offer--all four seasons, a thriving outdoor recreation culture, access to many lakes, numerous farms, and so on," says Wright. "We want to bring something unique and different back to the region we grew up in and make something that contributes to our local community and appeals to tourists as well."

 

They settled on the concept of a taco truck but decided early on that their work wouldn't be bound by the constraints of traditional Mexican fare. 

 

"We've both always been interested in [Mexican/Central American] cuisine," says Nagel. "We're not trying to make authentic Mexican dishes; it's more of an inspiration for some of our food, along with many other influences."

 

While they cobbled their plans together, Nagel served as sous chef at Roquette Burger Bistro in Charlevoix and Wright worked in the snowboarding industry. The discovery of an affordable, well-maintained truck for sale in Lansing was the turning point for their vision. They found the vehicle on Craigslist this summer and headed downstate on the same day. 

 

With the help of a few friends, they're now putting the finishing touches on a custom remodel that includes snazzy new menu boards and a hand-designed sign. They haven't had to hire any additional employees yet, but that could change as business takes off.

 

While Happy's started with a small menu--recently, customers could order tacos made with fried avocado, tomato jam and cotija cheese, chicken herb sausage with kimchi aioli, or smoked pork with honeycrisp salsa and aged cheddar--the owners are excited to diversify and experiment. 

 

"We want to keep changing [the menu]... so people know that they can always come back and try something different," says Wright. Although it'll be a bit more difficult as winter closes in, the pair is also committed to sourcing local ingredients to the extent possible. 

 

How can local foodies keep up with these two mobile food truck entrepreneurs? Simple: Check Happy's Facebook page for regular menu and location updates. Nagel and Wright plan on spending most of the winter at Boyne Mountain, then traveling to festivals and events across northern Michigan during next year's warm season. On Saturdays from May through October, they plan on maintaining a presence at the Boyne City Farmer's Market. And if you can't make it to the mountain or farmer's market but still want to show your support, the Strangers from the North Etsy store ships $10 Happy's T-shirts to any U.S. location.