J’s Grill food truck is now serving up smash burgers and other options
Gainesville Mayor Gail Reich, far left, welcomes new business owner (who also happens to be her sister) Jamie Turner Wyman, center, and her new food truck J’s Grill. Jamie’s granddaughter Teagan Hathcock also stands with the women.
Jamie says customers can be looking for signage and decals on the truck soon. They are being made by D&D Signs of Gainesville.
Jamie Turner Wyman, the master chef behind Gainesville’s newest food establishment, J’s Grill, held a grand opening at her food truck Tuesday, and despite the soggy weather, it was a huge hit with locals.
The truck is now open for business during regular hours, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
J’s Grill serves up Jamie’s famous “smash burgers,” known for their super thin beef patties that are smashed flat as they are cooked to create deliciously crispy edges. Customers can choose from the traditional single or double burger, with or without cheese, or get the burger piled as high as they’d like by adding additional patties to order.
Jamie says she also plans on featuring specialty burgers based on recommendations and requests for customers. Her first specialty burger, to be featured sometime this month, is extra special. The burger, which Jamie said she’s thinks she’ll name the “Robbie Doo” is in honor of her 38-year-old son Robert Hathcock who died unexpectedly Dec. 29. His 39th birthday would have been Feb. 22, Jamie says. Robbie Doo was a nickname given to Robert by Thornfield neighbor and family friend Harold Cooper, who also died last year. The Robbie Doo burger will feature jalapenoes, bacon and pepper jack cheese, just the way that Robert liked it.
Jamie says she’d love to hear other suggestions of specialty burger ideas, which can be given at the truck when ordering or shared to the J’s Grill Facebook page. So far customers have suggested a western burger with bacon, cheese, barbecue sauce and an onion ring and a mushroom swiss burger.
Other main entree options available at the food truck include fried chicken tenders, pork tenderloin sandwich and house salad topped with crispy chicken. Side items include crispy fries, side salad or chips. Bottled water and canned soda is also available for purchase.
Jamie said that the food truck hasn’t been a long thought out dream. Instead, she said the thought just came to her out of the blue.
“I just woke up one morning and looked at my husband Keith and said, ‘You know what I’m going to do?’ Keith just looked at me. I told him, ‘I’m going to buy a food truck.’ It was a little surprise to him at first, but he’s all on board with it now and has been a big help,” Jamie told the Times. Keith, who is currently employed with the Ozark County Road and Bridge crew, has also served as Jamie’s personal maintenance worker, helping to fix things on the truck and trailer as they’ve arose.
“It really feels like everything has just fallen into place, buying the food truck, coordinating with my landlord on where to put it and the whole community has just been so positive and supportive,” she said.
Jamie said she plans to evaluate and evolve the business as time goes on. She says she’ll likely be open in the evenings during the warmer months, maybe on days when summer ball league has many local residents without much time to prepare meals at home.
She says she also hopes to serve as a place where teenagers and other younger people can stop in and grab something to eat without breaking the bank. “I’m really trying to keep things as affordable as I can.” Current pricing starts at $4.50 for a single smash burger with chips and $4.75 for chicken tenders. A double cheeseburger with fries clocks in under the $10 mark.
J’s Grill is located at the junction of Highways 160 and 5 North in Gainesville. The trailer sits in the parking lot adjacent to Dollar General there.
Call in orders are welcome by dialing 417-299-3421. For more information on J’s Grill, visit their Facebook page.