Flames shoot up from the entrance to Food Trucks A-Go, a new food truck court on Route 27 in Boothbay. (Evan Houk photo)
If you see a powerful glow with flames shooting skyward out of the corner of your eye while driving south on Route 27, do not be alarmed. It’s not a spaceship or a dragon, it is only the 60,000-plus holiday lights and two towering flamethrowers that mark the entrance to Food Trucks A-Go, the brand-new food truck court in the Boothbay region that will be open this holiday season.
The court, which opened for business this past weekend, was organized by Cameron Clan Snack Co. owner Lester Spear, of Boothbay, as a way to attract more visitors to the place he calls home.
“My whole thing is, on the peninsula, there’s a lot going on here during the holidays. You’ve got all these events downtown – you know, Santa comes to the library,” Spear said.
Spear said he hopes to convert some of the visitors to Gardens Aglow, the wildly popular light display at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, into return customers.
A brilliant sign invites diners to enter Food Trucks A-Go, the new food truck court on Route 27 in Boothbay. The court will be open from 3-10 p.m., Thursday-Sunday, through the end of the year. (Evan Houk photo)
The Gardens Aglow display will run through Dec. 31.
The food trucks in the court are Salty Boyz, of New Harbor; Shannon’s Unshelled, of Boothbay Harbor; Blazing Tomato Pizza, of Jefferson; and BOGS Bakery.
Shannon’s Unshelled has the seafood covered, serving lobster rolls and chowder. Salty Boyz is providing the comfort food, with holiday poutine, fish tacos, chili, and more. BOGS Bakery will supply the desserts and coffee, while Blazing Tomato serves wood-fired pizza.
Spear’s Cameron Clan Snack Co. also has a mobile stand set-up that pops fresh kettle corn and sells hot apple cider and fudge.
The location also has Christmas trees for sale.
The vision has been “family fun and accessibility,” Spear said. “It doesn’t cost anything to get in here, you still get to see 60,000 lights, a little campfire, good food.”
Desiree Scorcia, Spear’s wife and the marketing and public relations director for the Food Trucks A-Go venture, said the couple has five children, underscoring their focus on family.
Families with young children visit Food Trucks A-Go on Route 27 in Boothbay on Saturday, Nov. 23. Organizer Lester Spear aims to make the food truck court an accessible and family-friendly place to buy good food. (Evan Houk photo)
Spear hopes to expand the family-oriented space in future years by adding more trucks, fireworks, live music, and possibly a Ferris wheel.
Spear said he has been in the souvenir industry with his father, Rod Spear, for several years, traveling to different resort towns selling their wares.
This past year, after buying a kettle corn stand and doing the local festival circuit, Spear decided to create a food truck park in Boothbay where people could stop to get real food.
“On the road traveling, I don’t like eating fast food and stuff, and I’m always looking for real food,” Spear said.
A young patron struggles to see over the counter to place an order with Warren Busteed, owner of the Salty Boyz food truck, at Food Trucks A-Go, the new food truck court on Route 27 in Boothbay, Saturday, Nov. 23. (Evan Houk photo)
Spear said he drew inspiration from a food truck park he saw in New London, Conn., where there are now about 26 vendors, a newly paved road, a park, and sidewalks and crosswalks, all centered around the food trucks.
On Saturday, Nov. 23, during its first full weekend in operation, Food Trucks A-Go was consistently busy. The parking lot, which holds about 15 vehicles, was overflowing and cars were parking on the side of Route 27 to gain entry.
Warren Busteed, owner of Salty Boyz, reported running out of food by the end of the night.
Lester Spear, organizer of the Food Trucks A-Go food truck court on Route 27 in Boothbay, dumps out a fresh batch of kettle corn at his mobile stand, Cameron Clan Snack Co., Saturday, Nov. 23. (Evan Houk photo)
Busteed said Spear’s vision drew him and his business partner, Florin Ungureanu, to be a part of Food Trucks A-Go.
“We really liked his vibe there. Once he explained his vision and the kind of work he’s going to put into it, that sold us,” Busteed said.
Busteed said he expects another busy weekend at the food court, as he heard that Gardens Aglow has sold out for the upcoming weekend.
There were several families with small children in attendance Saturday night, admiring the lights or warming up by the bonfire.
Food Trucks A-Go, at 798 Wiscasset Road, will be open from 3-10 p.m. on the following dates: Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, Dec. 5-8, Dec. 12-15, Dec. 19-23, and Dec. 25-31.
