Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Jones.
Hi Heather, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Mudbug Cajun Po Boys started with a dream of a restaurant and a food truck. Reflecting on Chef Chris southern roots Mudbug Mobile Madness was born. He started with four Po Boys and Gumbo. From there he perfected the menu offerings and expanded the menu into what it is today. Chef Chris worked his way through the ranks of multiple restaurant concepts including opening restaurants from the ground up and cleaning up existing concepts. It was at that point that he decided he wanted to start his own operation.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When our restaurant first opened in 2016 the natural progression of growth was happening quickly. We had a full staff, daily traffic and of course the food truck was running daily. By December of 2019 we were able to open a second location which was awesome at the time. Fast forward a couple of months the pandemic hit hard. Social distancing started, corporate offices sent their employees home to work and dining in restaurants was no longer an option. As fast as the second location was opened it was closed. Our traffic took a major hit at our main location for several reasons. One most people preferred eating in the restaurant, two we lost the majority of our staff due to lack of business and three we weren’t exactly setup for to go orders only. We quickly setup a site, started taking more phone orders and walk in orders but our traffic dropped tremendously. We are still recovering today. We have a number of guests that come in and say they haven’t been in since the start of the pandemic. The economy is like being on a rollercoaster with no end in sight. Gas prices, food prices and inflation changes how and what people spend money on.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Chef Chris has been in the restaurant business for over 30 years. Creating menus, recipes and managing operations daily. Chef Chris is the brains behind our concept. Chef Chris is known for creating amazing dishes and building successful concepts. When I came along I had to find my place in the restaurant. As a preteen my grandmother started baking with me, teaching me her tricks and recipes to create pies, cakes and cookies. I also baked for a couple of years at multiple restaurants as a teenager. I am personally proud of elevating my baking skills under the direction and encouragement of my husband Chef Chris.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Chef Chris favorite childhood memories are related to fishing and his grandfathers cooking. My favorite childhood memories center around my grandmother allowing me to bake freely whenever I came over for a visit. Also living in the south in general enjoying the wonderful southern cuisine.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mudbugtogo.com
- Facebook: Mudbug Cajun Po Boys
