Food Truck Friday is an event that occurs twice a month in downtown Opelika, highlighting local businesses and their commitment to serving their community.
Every first and third Friday of each month, food trucks line the streets and offer a variety of flavors to passersby. It is chock full of locals who have started their businesses to provide different tastes and cultures to the area.
One of the first trucks on the scene is Franky June’s Weeny Wagon, co-owned by Rick Lanier and his wife Karen Lanier. After living in California for 22 years and retiring from the Navy, Rick moved back to Opelika. When he returned, he realized just how much he missed the street food scene in California.
“When I got back here, I knew I was gonna start a food truck," Rick Lanier said. "This is home.”
Not only did he miss the food trucks, but he also missed the hot dogs in California.
“I got started on hot dogs because I just couldn’t find a great one here,” Rick Lanier said.
After becoming one of the first three trucks to be invited to Food Truck Fridays, the Laniers have had major successes outside of the event, including catering for Auburn University events.
“We have been everywhere. Tomorrow we’re going to the football complex to serve the team and potential prospects,” Rick Lanier said.
After all his success, there is still one thing driving the Laniers to continue this business: the customers and the people.
“I like watching people eat my food. I like seeing people smile and try something new," Rick Lanier said. "I like meeting people. There’s a lot to that here.”
A little further down the long line of food trucks sits a small, fairly unassuming ramen truck called Red Wolf Ramen. Owners Jonathan “Dude” and Elizabeth Allen are cooking up Japanese-style ramen the authentic way.
“There was a time when all I could afford was ramen, and I just knew there was a better way to make it,” Jonathan Allen said.
After watching influencers online succeed in their ramen-based endeavors, Jonathan knew it was in the cards for him.
“Finding authenticity was so important to me," Jonathan Lanier said. "No fusion, no bags, none of that.”
With a focus on quality over quantity of items, Red Wolf currently offers three to four menu items at a time.
Not only is Jonathan’s passion ramen, but he also owns Red Wolf School of Martial Arts, also located in Opelika. This martial arts school and ramen joint is unlike any other around, focusing on the improvement of the community before all else.
“Standing policy is if you have been assaulted, stalked, harassed in any way, you can come and train for free of charge,” Jonathan Allen said. “You will never see a bill from us. If we can give these people a sense of control back, that is all we care about.”
Jonathan emphasized that the goal of his operation is never to make money. It is always to give back. Even the people dishing up the ramen are all members of the martial arts gym.
“We are a very community-focused event,” Jonathan Allen said. “Everything is fully back to the community here.”
With more big plans of service to come, Red Wolf continues to put more and more of itself back into the people who made it possible.
Lastly, one of the last trucks on the corner belongs to VV's Sweet Treats. Co-owned by culinary students Bonnie Wise and Lori Yarbrough, the mother-daughter team noticed a lack of fair foods outside of fairs.
“The idea was fair food,” Yarbrough said. “Fairs only come around once a year, but sometimes you just crave a funnel cake.”
Somewhat new to the food truck game, Wise mused on the humble beginnings of the business.
“My grandson had never had cotton candy before, so we decided to make him some here," Wise said. "We thought it would be fun.”
Another reason they chose a truck over a restaurant was the price difference, though they do hope to open a restaurant at some point.
Scrawled across the front of the truck are several messages from Bonnie’s grandson, claiming he “was here."
“He draws on the front of the truck, so at every event, we decided to let the kids draw on it too,” Wise said.
With Food Truck Friday being their biggest event so far, there is even more room to grow for VV’s.
With so much variety and new trucks invited every month, there is always something different to try during Food Truck Fridays.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
Carrington Romanick is a junior from Helena, Alabama majoring in law and justice. She joined The Plainsman in August 2023.
