Syracuse, N.Y. — Pam Dwyer started pulling her bright red trailer, festooned with cartoon lady bugs and equipped with a small but fully capable kitchen, through the streets of Syracuse in 2001.
“People thought I was a little crazy,” she said. “They may have been right. But I battled on.”
Lady Bug Lunch Box was the first regular “food truck” in the Syracuse area. Now Dwyer is ending her run after 23 years.
Dwyer said she’s “heartbroken” to give up her business. She cited a few health issues, including a bad left arm, for her decision. “I really just can’t do it anymore,” she said.
She has put the recently refurbished trailer, the Chevy van that pulls it, plus all its equipment, branding, logos etc. up for sale. She’s asking $75,000. She is also offering her “commissary” location on Kirkpatrick Street, where she does meal prep, for rent.
As part of the deal, Dwyer is even willing to provide about three months of training, including tips on how to navigate the often complex issues of licensing and location selection.
During her run, Dwyer pulled the Lady Bug rig around to corporate events, festivals, parties and more.
On summer days when she wasn’t booked at an event, her trailer could be found parked on the Fayette Street side of the city’s Firefighters Memorial Park.
“I have so many regulars there,” Dwyer said. “So many familiar faces over the years.”
Her menu included traditional favorites like hot dogs, hamburgers sausage sandwiches and plenty of sides.
Dwyer started the mobile food concept after spending six years operating the Lady Bug Lunch Box as a “brick and mortar” cafe at 338 S. Salina St. across from the Landmark Theatre.
She already had a sidewalk hot cart at the time. In those days, sidewalk carts were common in Syracuse but food trucks were not.
“I really don’t remember how I got the idea,” she said. “And then I had to battle with the city over getting the space and everything. It was all so new. Food…
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