New food truck lot holds military appreciation day
Amy Smaracheck, who started the Belle Vernon enterprise, has a son in the Air Force.
Belle Vernon’s new food truck spot, COP-A-SQUAT, held a military appreciation day on Friday for veterans and active military members.
Amy Smaracheck, who started the 124 Main St. Belle Vernon food truck lot near the Belle Vernon Municipal Authority Building, wanted to have a military appreciation day because she comes from a military family. It has been in operation since the beginning of June to bring different foods and businesses into the area after her husband had an empty lot for years.
Some of the businesses in attendance Friday included Kickin Korndogs, Station 189 BBQ and The Lavish Lemon. The event also featured a 50/50 raffle and giveaways.
Since Smaracheck’s son is in the Air Force and was coming home July 4 weekend, she decided along with Mackenzie Daube of Kickin Korndogs to have the military appreciation day with each vendor offering a discount if a customer shows a military ID.
“Me and her got together and we were going to do this anyway, but him coming home was a bonus,” Smaracheck said. “It’s busy down here today. These are my steady Saturday people, so they come out every Saturday and they sell out almost every Saturday, which is really cool.”
Daube made Stanley giveaway packages for three raffle winners as long as they ordered off the menu, said Smaracheck, who is also giving away a raffle prize of her own.
The event was also an Independence Day celebration for Smaracheck and her family, and she wanted to honor the military personnel in the community.
“My whole family is coming down in the afternoon and my husband is bringing the fire pit down,” Smaracheck said. “This is our Fourth of July celebration because why have it at home when you can have it here. I just felt we could make it fun.”
Smaracheck said the lot has been doing well. She encouraged anyone to come out, whether it be a community member or a vendor.
“The good thing is I have had a lot of really steady trucks and it’s going really well,” Smaracheck said. “Last Monday, we had three of them here. We had a good day.
“There are some (trucks) I am not asking to come back. I have been blown away by the learning process. I just like talking to people. I came here all day Monday to hear where people found out about us and people have liked it.”
Kelly and Donald Wood of Station 189 BBQ, who have a son and friends in the military, have been coming to the lot ever since it opened. Donald is a retired life member of a fire department in McKees Rocks and has been doing barbecue for 30 years.
“It’s a family affair,” Kelly said. “We have been doing it for a while. We used to have a brick and moder in McKees Rocks. It wasn’t working. Keeping it open and traveling an hour just wasn’t worth it. It’s been his passion for a while to do this.
“The lot is not a bad spot. It’s getting better and better every week. Our son is in the Marines and we have friends that are military and we have quite a few of friends. Amy is just a really nice person. She asked us if we wanted to do it and we said why not.”
Kristin Bergman of Charleroi, owner of The Lavish Lemon, a fresh-squeezed lemonade stand that has a “different take” on lemonade, has been to the location before.
“I came here one other time and I just think it’s cool that she is trying to get this going,” Bergman said. “So I want to kinda help try to get this thing going. People get tired of the same old stuff. I thought it was cool what she is doing for this event.”
Food is usually available Mondays through Saturdays. The lot’s next event will be a trunk or treat event in October with more vendors for children.
For those looking to find the weekly schedules for upcoming vendors or who are interested in becoming a vendor, Smaracheck encouraged them to check out their Facebook page COP-A_SQUAT Food Truck Lot or text/call her at 724-797-0079.
“Her son, my brother. We wanted to show our support and that we’re proud. We’re proud of everyone in this town,” said Smaracheck’s daughter, Gabrielle Kohr, who runs the Facebook page. “It’s awesome. She enjoys meeting people. I think it gives people here something to look forward to. When I was in high school, I wished there was something open like this. Better now than never.”
